BJP has nothing to say, running away from Manipur: Delhi Minister Gopal Rai

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of ‘running away’ from the issue of Manipur, adding that they have ‘nothing to say’ on the topic of the ongoing violence which has claimed the lives of more than 160 people in the northeastern state.

Speaking to the news agency ANI on Thursday, Rai said, “They [BJP] are running away from the Manipur issue since Day 1. It has been three months now since the violence erupted in the state but still the atmosphere is tense in the state. Even in Parliament, PM Modi was forced to speak on the Manipur after a no-confidence resolution was moved, and he still spoke for just 2 minutes.”

The issue of the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur is being discussed in the Delhi Assembly on Thursday, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to speak on the issue. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs Durgesh Pathak, Vinay Mishra, and Kuldeep Kumar are scheduled to initiate a short discussion on the topic of ‘disturbances in Manipur’ and the atrocities faced by the local people, as per the listed legislative business for the House for Thursday.

Manipur violence concerning issue for whole world: Delhi Minister

Delhi Minister of Health Saurabh Bharadwaj highlighted the importance of the discussion, saying, “This is a concerning issue not only for our country but for the whole world.”

The issue of Manipur was raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Tuesday, where he said, “The whole country stands with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way to resolve all disputes. The Centre and the Manipur government are making every effort to ensure that peace returns to the state at the earliest.”