Alfred Arthur (PTI)
Congress MP from Manipur Alfred K. Arthur slammed the BJP-led Centre on Saturday over its handling of the situation in the North Eastern region and sought a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on whether the country is so weak that it cannot protect the lives of civilians.
Participating in a two-day debate in the Lok Sabha on the “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India”, the Outer Manipur MP said the people of Manipur cannot be victimised for a cause that the country cannot handle.
“I need not remind this House or nation what happened in the state of Manipur on May 3, 2023, what has been happening for the last 19 months. The last time I spoke in this august House, I very clearly said that as a citizen of this nation and coming from a family that has contributed in building this nation, it is my right to ask for justice,” Arthur said.
“Why is it that till today, my prime minister, someone who this nation believes in, someone who I also wish to believe in…. Why is that till date he is not answerable to the people of Manipur? Is it too much to ask? When half of those civilians who have elected you here today, the children and women from across communities have lost their lives, they cannot be victimized for a cause which this nation or state cannot handle.
“Is my nation so weak that we cannot protect the lives and properties of civilians in Manipur?” the Congress leader asked.
The MP appealed to the members of the treasury benches to stand up for the people of Manipur and bring justice to them.
Alfred also drew attention to how, during the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, the people of North East were unaware of discussions shaping the nation’s future. Amendments like Article 371(A) for Nagaland (1963) and Article 371(C) for Manipur (1971) were later introduced to address this oversight, he added. “Our nation prides itself on pluralism,” Alfred emphasized, underscoring the need for inclusivity and respect for diversity in India’s identity.
However, Alfred expressed anguish over the December 4, 2021, killings in Oting, where six unarmed civilians were killed by armed forces, followed by the loss of eight more lives. Citing budget cuts to MNREGA as a factor driving the victims to coal mines for survival, the MP questioned the absence of accountability from the government.
“Did this House, this nation, not stand up to condemn the killings? Was it enough to nominate Rajya Sabha MP who hails from Oting as a gesture to assuage the villagers? What about justice for the families who lost their loved ones?” Alfred asked. He also expressed pain over the silence of the nation and its leadership in addressing the killings of the 14 civilians in Mon district of Nagaland.
The MP further lamented that no formal acknowledgment of responsibility had come from the Union Defence Minister, despite the gravity of the incident.
“At least I expected our Union Defence Minister to stand up and say, ‘We own responsibility for whatever wrong happened. It is our own people we have assassinated, and for that, we mourn to this day.’ That is missing,” he added.
