The all-party gathering that Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened to review the current state of affairs in Manipur has started today in New Delhi.
Amit Shah convened the conference to assess the situation in the violently unstable state. In addition to other prominent figures, the gathering includes Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, BJP National President JP Nadda, and CPI(M) MP John Brittas. During his four-day visit to the violent state earlier in May, Amit Shah made a plea for peace and issued a warning about harsh punishment for miscreants.
In relation to the Manipur problem, the opposition has criticised the BJP and questioned its leadership.
The state administration of Manipur has prolonged the internet ban by five more days till June 25 with immediate effect in an attempt to avoid additional disturbances to peace as the state has continued to experience events like arson since May 3.
Due to the ongoing instability in the state, data services have also been suspended.
Conflicts that broke out at a rally called by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to oppose the demand that Meiteis be included to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list caused violence to erupt in Manipur on May 3.
Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party, called for calm and harmony in Manipur, saying that the state’s history-making violence has “left a deep wound in the conscience of our nation” and has wrecked people’s lives there.
Since the outbreak of violence began in the BJP-ruled state of Manipur, Congress has been outspoken against the situation.
An order from the Manipur High Court ordering the state to take into consideration adding the Meitei group to the Scheduled list served as the catalyst.
The violence between the Meitei and Kuki groups has claimed the lives of over 100 individuals.
