PM Modi talks about Manipur for the first time outside Parliament, accuses ‘GHAMANDIA’ of betraying state | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday talked about Manipur outside Parliament for the first time ever after ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state more than three months ago. He alleged that the opposition parties, whom he called GHAMANDIA (arrogant), betrayed the strife-torn state.

Though Modi had spoken on the Manipur issue in his 2-hour-13-minute reply to the motion inside Parliament on August 10, he spoke for the first time on the topic outside Parliament ever since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3.
Addressing through video conferencing the BJP’s Kshetriya Panchayati Raj Parishad in Kolkata, the PM came down heavily on the opposition for “running away” in the midst of the debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha.

He said the whole country saw that the MPs of the opposition parties ran away from the House and alleged that they betrayed the people of Manipur.
Modi said, “But it is very sad that these people betrayed the Manipur people in a major way. Before the start of the monsoon session of Parliament, Union home minister (Amit Shah) wrote a letter to these political parties and said he immediately wanted to discuss Manipur with them because it is necessary that a detailed discussion takes place only on Manipur.”
He said had there been an extensive discussion between the ruling and the opposition parties on such a sensitive topic, a balm would surely have been applied on the people of Manipur and some new solutions to the problem would have emerged from it.
“But these people (opposition MPs) did not want a discussion on Manipur. Because they knew the truth of Manipur is going to prick them the most,” he said.
The prime minister accused the opposition of neither having any plans for the people of Manipur nor caring about them. He said their politics is treating the party above the nation. “Therefore, what they did is to avoid a discussion on Manipur and give priority to political debate by moving a no-confidence motion.”
He said the MPs of the opposition parties kept scoring over political issues for three days inside the House. “They raised so many issues, levelled unbridled allegations and talked meaningless things to sidetrack the Manipur issue.”
PM Modi said, “However many obstacles the opposition parties may create inside Parliament, the BJP workers and representatives of the people have to surely go all prepared amongst the people to minutely tell them all aspects of the truth.”

The PM also sought to corner the opposition for staging a walkout when he was speaking on the motion. “Friends, we are meeting at a time when there is the best environment of trust and self-confidence. You all know that just two days ago, with the blessings of 140 crore people, the country was connected with Parliament with a new confidence, new inspiration and new vigour.”
He said, “You saw we not just defeated the no-confidence of the opposition in Parliament but also gave a befitting reply to the practice of spreading negativity which has started in the country.”
Prime Minister Modi said It is the responsibility of the opposition in a democracy to listen when one speaks during a discussion. “But they ran away in the middle of the discussion. They left the House. Whatever excuses they would have made, but the truth is that they had developed cold feet over voting on the no-confidence motion.”
Modi accused the opposition of not wanting voting to take place on the motion. “Because had voting taken place, this ‘GHAMANDIA’ alliance would have been exposed. That is why they fled in order to escape the voting,” he said.
He uses the word ‘GHAMANDIA’ in reply to the 26-party opposition parties naming themselves INDIA, an acronym for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the no-confidence motion, Modi had said both the state and central governments are doing everything possible to ensure that the accused get the strictest punishment.
He had assured the people of Manipur that peace will be restored very soon. He had also said the country is with the people of Manipur, including women and daughters.