The government initiated a discussion on the proclamation of President’s Rule in ethnic-violence hit Manipur at 2 am on Thursday, catching many in the Lok Sabha off guard as the House was winding down after a marathon sitting. A little more than 24 hours later, the Rajya Sabha passed the same resolution, capping a rare instance of grave national concern being debated in the early hours of dawn.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the statutory resolution in the Rajya Sabha at 2.36 am on Friday, following a 12-hour discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The resolution was passed at 3.58 am after 11 members participated in the debate. This followed its approval in the Lok Sabha, which passed it at 2.40 am on Thursday.
On Thursday evening, even as the Waqf Bill was under discussion, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Chair to defer the debate on Manipur until the following day, citing the lateness of the hour. The Chair declined, stating that the item had already been listed for Thursday’s business.
Later, when other opposition members echoed Kharge’s request, Shah retorted, “Manipur is an important issue. Why don’t you work till late night for once tonight?”
During the Rajya Sabha debate, Kharge opened the discussion questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence and absence from Manipur in the past two years. “I demand an inquiry and a white paper to be presented in the House. Everybody will then know what is happening in the state…. BJP has no plan in place to restore peace. They have allowed conflict to deepen,” said the Congress leader.
He further alleged, “The CM should have taken responsibility and resigned. BJP was working to save the CM and not Manipur. The President’s Rule has not been imposed to save Manipur but to save the party’s prospects there.”
In his reply, Shah said the resolution was brought towards the end of the session as the government was holding talks with both groups involved in the ethnic conflict. “While the House was in session, two talks have already been held. We are confident that a joint meeting with both groups will soon be held in New Delhi,” Shah said.
He countered the Opposition’s charge by stating that the imposition of President’s Rule was not because of failing law and order. “There was no violence in November, December, and even until now. The CM had resigned which paved the way for President's Rule. The claims that Congress was set to bring a no-confidence motion is incorrect. They did not have the numbers. The President’s Rule was imposed only after the Governor consulted all parties and no MLAs came forward to stake claim,” Shah added.
Responding to a question about a possible deadline to restore peace in Manipur, Shah said: “There is a difference between Naxalism and ethnic violence. Let me clarify what is happening in Manipur. It is not terrorism or communal clashes. Tackling ethnic clashes is different.” He pointed out that previous ethnic conflicts in the state had lasted from seven months to 10 years.
Shah added that all such clashes occurred under Congress regimes, and in each of those instances, no Prime Minister had visited the state. He reiterated that the latest bout of violence was sparked by a High Court order, since set aside by the Supreme Court. “In the seven years before May 2023 there were no strikes, blockades or curfews in Manipur. There was unrest among the tribal population only after the HC order. There was a feeling of insecurity that spread after the HC order. The situation was volatile. The SC has already set aside the order,” he said.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien questioned the timing of the resolution and the Prime Minister’s absence.
“On the last day of the Parliament, you move the resolution. Why did you not bring it in the morning? What is Manipur’s fault? They are Indian citizens. Look at the irony. Discussing Manipur in the dead of the night when there are no prime time or TV channels. Look at Manipur during the day. Look at Manipur in the eye and talk to Manipur,” O’Brien said.
To this, Shah shot back: “Yes there were crimes against women. But it was ethnic in Manipur between two groups. What happened in Bengal was not ethnic clashes. What happened in Sandeshkhali? For years, women were subjected to harassment there and your government did nothing. Nothing was done in RG Kar. In fact some of your own party members were involved in the crime. In Manipur’s case, we do not support one group or the other.”
Shah said the BJP had never politicised the Manipur issue, unlike some in the Opposition. “I checked the records and found that the BJP had never politicised the issue like some are doing for political gain today,” he said.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on 13 February, four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned. His resignation followed nearly two years of ethnic violence in the state, which claimed at least 260 lives and displaced over 50,000 people.
The Assembly was not dissolved and remains in suspended animation — allowing a party with majority to stake claim for government formation at a later date.
Follow us
