New Delhi: Twenty three months after ethnic violence first broke out, and almost two months after President’s Rule was imposed in the state, the Lok Sabha took up the discussion on the statutory resolution on the proclamation of President’s Rule in Manipur at 2 am on April 3.
The discussion which lasted about only 40 minutes saw hurried speeches by MPs. It was notably taken up by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the house passed The Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 after a 12-hour debate – when the clock was ready to strike 2 am. Opposition members raised protests about the discussion being taken up at such a late hour, but Birla went ahead with the topic. The discussion lasted about 30 minutes, after which Union home minister Amit Shah gave his reply for about 10 minutes.
According to Article 356, President’s Rule needs to be approved by both Houses of parliament within two months of its imposition. The ongoing Budget session of parliament is set to conclude on April 4.
‘Haven’t done their job’
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor who opened the debate said that given the late hour, he was tempted to say, “better late than never”.
“I must say I am sorely tempted at this very late hour to say that better late than never. We all witnessed the horrors of Manipur. A slow burning horror once the unrest began in 2023 which is continuing now for 21 months before President’s Rule was actually declared. During this time we have seen at least 200 people die, 6.5 lakhs ammunition looted, more than 70,000 displaced and thousands forced to live in relief camps. And this is happening at a time when clearly those responsible for maintaining law and order have not done their job,” he said.
Tharoor said that this was the 11th instance of imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, a situation he said was a blot on the conscience of the nation. He said that “no decisive action was taken for nearly two years” and President’s Rule was only imposed after chief minister N. Biren Singh resigned.
In his reply, Union minister Amit Shah said that the violence in the state was “not riots or terrorism”.
“This was ethnic violence between two groups because of an interpretation of a high court order,” he said referring to the Manipur high court’s 2023 direction to the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list.
‘What about opposition rule?’
Shah said that he did not want to list the ethnic violence that has occurred either under opposition rule or the BJP’s rule but then went on to list three incidents of violence starting from 1993.
“We think there should not be any incident under our rule. But we controlled it. Of the 260 lives lost, 80% was in the first month itself. The three incidents of violence, for five years, and six months happened under the INDI alliance governments,” he said.
Shah said that after the imposition of President’s Rule, meetings have been held between all communities and the issue should not be “politicised”.
“There has been no violence in four months. Two people have been injured. I am not saying things are normal. The President’s Rule was not imposed because our chief minister was facing a no-confidence motion. When our chief minister resigned and no other party was in a position to form the government, President’s Rule was imposed. The government wants peace and heal the wounds,” he said.
‘Time to be honest’
Samajwadi Party MP Lalji Verma said that the BJP-led government did not impose President’s Rule in Manipur despite repeated demands from the opposition.
“When demands were being made to impose President’s Rule the BJP government by its stubbornness intimidated minorities and did not impose President’s Rule. In the same way that the Waqf Bill was brought to intimidate minorities, in Manipur too minorities were intimidated and no action was taken to stop violence. All opposition parties had unitedly asked for President’s Rule. While we are with this resolution, the government should ensure normalcy and give the people a chance to choose their own government,” he said.
DMK MP Kanimozhi said that nothing has been done to bring peace in Manipur and there should be an elected government that should return to Manipur that will “ensure peace and harmony and a government that will bring people together and not divisive politics.”
“This is a time for you to be honest and answer the people of this country,” she said.
