Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed the BJP-ruled central government for organising an all-party meet on the Manipur issue at a time when the Prime Minister will not be present in the country.
“Manipur has been burning for 50 days, but the Prime Minister remained silent. An all-party meeting was called when the Prime Minister himself was not in the country! Clearly, this meeting is not important for the Prime Minister,” Rahul tweeted.
Also Read: ‘Deep wound in the conscience of our nation’: Sonia Gandhi appeals for peace and harmony in Manipur
Union Home minister on Wednesday convened an all-party meeting to discuss the Manipur situation on June 24. The Prime Minister will conclude his three-day visit to the US on June 23, before heading to Egypt on a two-day visit.
The Opposition has criticised PM Modi for silence on the ethnic clashes in Manipur and Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that the violence had left a “deep wound” on the conscience of the nation.
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Reacting to the developments, Mamata Bannerjee suggested that the Centre’s outreach was too little too late.
“It’s too late now…I got a reply yesterday, after the all-party meeting was called. I will be sending Derek O’Brien to that meeting,” she said.
Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on a four-day visit to Manipur from May 29 and also met the members of Kuki and Meitei communities. He had also announced the establishment of a peace-committee on June 10, chaired by Governor Anusuiya Uikey.
The violence so far has claimed over a 100 lives and left several others injured. The deepening ethnic fault-lines have seen mob attacks on the residential quarters of elected ministers, including many BJP leaders.
The initial clashes began from May 3 to 5 after a conflict between the Meitei and Kuki tribes. Since then, reports of violence have continued to emerge in various districts of Manipur.