New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday attacked the government for not allowing its second MP from Manipur to speak before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address in the Lok Sabha, saying that the PM, who had all the time to crack jokes had “no time” to listen to the voice of Manipur.Just ahead of the PM’s address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had demanded that its MP from outer Manipur Alfred Arthur be allowed to speak.Addressing the media, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, “We saw very sad scenes in the Lok Sabha. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi wanted both the MPs from Manipur to speak during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. The demand was made by Rahul repeatedly.”Mr Gandhi had gone to Manipur and saw the division in society that there is a civil war-like environment prevailing there, Mr Gogoi said.The Opposition party attacked the Prime Min-ister after his utterances on Manipur in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.The attack comes after the Prime Minister said violence in Manipur is continuously declining, schools have reopened in most parts of the state and efforts were being made to ensure a return of complete peace.In his reaction to the remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Today in the Rajya Sabha, after months of absolute silence on the issue, the non-biological PM made the astounding claim that the situation in Manipur is normal.”“In actuality, the situation is still tense as the MP from inner Manipur pointed out in the Lok Sabha on July 1. And the non-biological Pradhan Mantri has still not visited Manipur since it erupted on the night of May 3, 2023 — nor has he met with the political leaders of the state. The President’s address, too, was silent on the issue,” he said.Hitting out at the BJP for attacking the Congress office in Gujarat, Mr Gandhi also targeted the saffron party for “spreading violence and hatred”. In a post in Hindi on X, Mr Gandhi said, “The cowardly and violent attack on the Gujarat Congress office further strengthens my point about the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. The BJP people who spread violence and hatred do not understand the basic principles of Hinduism.”“The people of Gujarat can clearly see through their lies and will teach the BJP government a decisive lesson. I am saying it again — INDIA is going to win in Gujarat!” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.Several workers and leaders from both sides were detained from the spot in the Paldi area after the violent clash and stone pelting, a city police control room official said.While the BJP accused Congress workers of attacking a “peaceful protest,” Opposition leaders blamed BJP cadres for initiating the violence.
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