In a fierce parliamentary address, Outer Manipur Congress MP Alfred Arthur lambasted Chief Minister N Biren Singh, accusing him of promoting violence through his rhetoric. Arthur’s criticisms came amid discussions on the 2024-25 fiscal budget, focusing on the deepening crisis in Manipur.
“Every day, the words that come out from his mouth are about beating, killing, and violence. What is this? Is this my country?” he passionately questioned, highlighting the disturbing state of affairs in the region. He also called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the absence of Union ministers in Manipur since 2023, urging a direct intervention to address the ongoing chaos.
Arthur painted a grim picture of Manipur’s economic conditions, highlighting that the state suffers from the lowest per capita income and highest inflation rates. He also condemned the Finance Minister’s budget as anti-people. “How do you expect a state with the lowest income and highest prices to survive? You already have a conflict, and now, unprecedented floods—the worst in 35 years—have hit us,” he stated.
Reflecting on his family’s legacy, particularly his grand uncle Major Bob Rowling’s contributions to the nation, Arthur lamented the current neglect. “Today you are burning my state. Did he ever think that this nation would let go of his own people whom he so fondly called his nation?” he asked.
Arthur drew attention to the suffering of displaced people, especially women and children, due to the conflict. “Can you not even hear the cries of the women and children who cannot go back to their homes?” he implored, emphasizing that the ongoing strife has persisted for 15 months.
He called for the urgent replacement of Chief Minister N Biren Singh to restore peace in Manipur. “Is it so difficult to replace one man and bring peace to our area?” he asked, criticizing the NDA government’s inaction.
Finally, Arthur urged for the greater integration of the Northeast into the national tourism map to generate job opportunities and reduce economic dependencies. “Our youngsters are jobless in the Northeast. Had tourism been encouraged, our people wouldn’t need to look to other regions for survival,” he concluded.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/video/cm-n-biren-singh-speaks-only-of-beating-killing-and-violence-says-outer-manipur-congress-mp-1060594-2024-07-30?utm_source=rssfeed
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