INDIA bloc demands Amit Shah's resignation over Manipur unrest

New Delhi: Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance(INDIA) today demanded the resignation of the union Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to restore peace in troubled Manipur.

The INDIA bloc leaders staged a sit-in dharna at Jantar Mantar pressing with their demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur.

They also demanded dismissal of the Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Leaders belonging to the various INDIA parties like Congress, the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, AAP, RSP, NCP, Shiv Sena (ÜBT), and AIFB were among those who participated in the protest "for an immediate restoration of peace and normalcy" in Manipur.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should urgently visit Manipur and Home Minister Amit Shah should resign on "moral grounds" over the situation in the state.

“The state has been inflicted with unprecedented turmoil, continuous curfew, internet ban, high price rise of all commodities, unavailability of medicines, continuous violence, highways blockade, rising extortion, all form of violent threats and disturbances, complete lawlessness and chaos, a complete violation of Right to Life and Right to Properties, loss of life, and complete disarray of hope for the youth and total obstruction to the smooth functioning of schools, colleges, universities, and professional institutions in Manipur”, he said.

Listing the demands of the INDIA bloc, Manipur, Jairam Ramesh said, the Prime Minister should urgently visit Manipur for an immediate restoration of peace and normalcy in the state without affecting the territorial integrity of Manipur.

He said the Prime Minister of India should be held responsible for the ongoing turmoil in Manipur and continuous violence for 19 months in the state.

He called for the resignation of the Union Home Minister on moral grounds for his failure to tackle the present violence in Manipur for the last 19 months.

Besides, he added, the Chief Minister of Manipur should be immediately sacked for allowing Manipur to keep burning for the last 19 months.

The former chief minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh said that the people of Manipur were wondering whether they were part of the country. “What is happening in Manipur, if it had happened in any other state of the country if it happened in Gujarat, or if it had happened here in Delhi, or UP, would the government of India have acted the same way?” he asked.

Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said that the whole INDIA bloc was speaking in one voice over the Manipur issue, but the BJP has "shown its back" to the people of the state.

He also said that the opposition is not being allowed to raise the issue in Parliament. "There should be a debate on Manipur in Parliament. Is it a crime to ask questions on Manipur?" he asked.

Those who joined the protest included Congress leaders and MPs Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, Shashi Tharoor, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, CPI (M) leaders Prakash Karat and John Brittas, CPI leader D. Raja, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Meghalaya MP Salena A Sangma, AICC Manipur Incharge Girish Chodankar, Former Manipur CM Okram Ibobi, Manipur PCC President Keisham Meghachandra, AICC NSUI in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar, IYC President, NSUI president, Nagaland PCC president S. Jamir, and several other leaders.

The sit-in also saw participation from various Manipur leaders and numerous Members of Parliament from Congress.