Amit Shah stands firm on Manipur’s stability under BJP, appeals for peace

Union Home Minister Amit Shah voiced his disappointment in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, chastising the Opposition for bypassing the opportunity to discuss the ‘sensitive’ issue of Manipur. “From the outset, I was open to discussing Manipur. However, the Opposition evaded it. They could have requested the PM’s statement if unsatisfied with mine,” Amit Shah proclaimed.

Drawing attention to the stability in Manipur under the BJP regime, Amit Shah pointed out the lack of any situation necessitating a curfew during their governance. “While the Opposition may be reluctant to let me speak, they cannot mute me. We’ve been chosen by 130 crore citizens, and they’ll have to heed us. In our six-year tenure in Manipur, there was never a call for curfew,” he affirmed during the no-confidence motion debate.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Urges Dialogue on Manipur Issue, Criticizes Opposition in Lok Sabha. Photo courtesy of GODL-India/Wikimedia Commons.

Taking a firm stance against politicizing such pivotal matters, Amit Shah stated, “While violent episodes have occurred in Manipur, endorsing or leveraging them politically is disgraceful.” Countering calls for the dismissal of Manipur’s Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Shah praised Singh’s collaboration with the central government in peacekeeping endeavors. “A change in state CM is merited when there’s no cooperation. This CM is actively collaborating with the Centre,” Amit Shah emphasized.

Championing a peaceful resolution, Amit Shah advocated dialogue between the conflicting Meitei and Kuki communities, underscoring that aggression isn’t a viable answer. “I assure the return of peace in the state and urge all to abstain from politicizing this concern,” he added.

Concluding the session, the Lok Sabha unanimously endorsed a resolution advocating peace in Manipur. This motion witnessed enthusiastic support from NDA members, even amidst the presence of the opposition.