Manipur Assembly Session Adjourned Amid Uproar Over Session Duration and State’s Prevailing Situation.
The Manipur Assembly session, which commenced on Tuesday, was abruptly adjourned sine die without engaging in a comprehensive discussion on the ongoing state crisis. The development followed a dramatic uproar sparked by the opposition Congress party’s insistence on extending the session’s duration to five days for an in-depth analysis of the current state of affairs.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, before the adjournment, presented the fifth Report of the Business Advisory Committee for the year 2024. The session was initially suggested to be a one-day event by the BJP-led state cabinet, aiming to address several resolutions regarding the ongoing turmoil and measures required to bring an end to the escalating conflict. However, this recommendation was met with resistance from five Congress MLAs and a member of the JD(U), who advocated for a lengthier five-day session to allow for thorough deliberations on the prevailing situation.
The assembly proceedings commenced at 11 am, marked by a poignant two-minute silence to honor the lives lost during the ethnic violence that erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3. The opposition members, led by former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, vociferously expressed their discontent with the proposed one-day duration, deeming it inadequate to tackle the complexities of the strife-ridden state.
Discontent resonated within the assembly as Congress legislators entered the House, raising slogans while Chief Minister N. Biren Singh introduced a resolution to commemorate the lives lost. Speaker Satyabrata intervened, adjourning the House for thirty minutes in an attempt to restore order. Nonetheless, the opposition members persisted in their vocal protests, even amidst the tumultuous atmosphere. Amidst the chaos, the state government managed to pass a resolution expressing condolences for the significant loss of lives over the past four months of unrest that has gripped the state.
The resolution, a unanimous sentiment of the House, conveyed the commitment to work toward unity and harmony among all residents of Manipur. It pledged a concerted effort to address differences through dialogue and constitutional means, aiming to reinstate lasting peace throughout the region. Additionally, the resolution implored citizens to disregard divisive elements, embrace non-violence, and safeguard the interests of the state and nation.
Expressing strong dissent, Manipur Congress President Keisham Meghachandra raised a black flag at the Rajiv Bhawan campus, symbolizing protest against what he deemed an “unconstitutional” assembly session. Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh lamented the day as a setback for Manipur’s parliamentary democracy.
In a noteworthy departure from the session’s heated debates, the assembly took a moment to celebrate the triumphant landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon. Scientist N Raghu Singh, a native of Manipur and a key member of the ISRO team behind the mission, was honored by the assembly for his remarkable achievement.
The assembly session, slated to be a one-day event, was convened due to the lapse of time since the last session held in March. According to procedural norms, an assembly must convene every six months. Notably, ten Kuki MLAs abstained from attending the session, citing concerns for the safety of the Kuki-Zomi population in Imphal.
The ongoing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which ignited on May 3, has resulted in the tragic loss of more than 160 lives and the displacement of over 60,000 individuals. Alarming reports indicated that gunfire was heard in the Bishnupur district even on the day of the adjournment.
Amid the fervor surrounding the assembly session, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) voiced their opposition to the session, citing the prevailing breakdown of law and order and the state government’s perceived failure to ensure safety. The organizations jointly asserted that convening the session lacked rationale and logic. Former Manipur Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh echoed these sentiments, characterizing the session as mere optics, devoid of public interest.
