Union Home Minister Amit Shah plans to introduce the Immigration and Foreigners Bill focusing on passport, visa, and registration requirements for foreigners. The session, lasting until April 4, is expected to see heated debates on issues like alleged manipulation of electoral rolls and the ongoing violence in Manipur. The opposition intends to raise concerns about duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card numbers, potentially leading to a confrontation.
An Inter-states bus of the Manipur state transport was attacked in Kangpokpi district on Saturday, as the state government resumed public bus services for the first time in two years. The bus was pelted with stones by a mob, leading to retaliation from security forces. The buses to the Churachandpur and Senapati districts were escorted by a large convoy of central forces in an effort to ensure the free movement of people and alleviate public inconvenience. This comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's direction to take strict action against those creating obstructions, as the state has been facing ethnic violence since May 2023.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has resigned from his post citing pressure from both outside and within his party. The resignation comes just a day before a no-confidence motion was planned against Singh by the Opposition. The development follows recent controversies surrounding the CM, including allegations of his involvement in ethnic violence and a Supreme Court investigation. Singh has been asked to continue as caretaker CM, but not to make policy decisions.
The state of Manipur has been rocked by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, sparked by the proposal to include the former in the Scheduled Tribe category. On Sunday, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh tendered his resignation and submitted it to the Governor, citing his desire to serve the people of Manipur. However, the opposition Congress party has criticized his decision as "belated" and pointed out the lack of timely action on the part of both the state and central governments. The violence has resulted in numerous casualties and has prompted the Supreme Court to direct the government to provide basic amenities for internally displaced people.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has urged the people to work together to uphold the pride and dignity of Manipur on the occasion of the state's Statehood Day on January 21. Calling it a significant milestone in the state's history, Singh asked for a collective pledge to ensure the state's progress. The call for unity comes amid ongoing ethnic violence that has claimed hundreds of lives since 2023. The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his well wishes on this special day.
Tensions have been high in Manipur's Kangpokpi district for the past week, leading to a violent attack on the office of the Superintendent of Police on Friday. Videos and images emerging from the town show armed individuals dressed in camouflage and damaged vehicles on the premises. The violence follows a confrontation between security forces and Kuki-Zo women in the district earlier in the week, which has sparked protests and demands for the removal of joint security forces stationed in the area. While the situation has been brought under control, locals estimate that 15 people from the mob were injured.
Congress questions PM Modi's priorities as ethnic violence rages on in Manipur and he embarks on a two-day visit to Kuwait, the first by an Indian PM in 43 years. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh highlights the discrepancy in the PM's actions as Manipur's fate remains uncertain.
Laishram Herojit, a low-level government worker, has appealed for the safe return of his family who went missing after an encounter between suspected Kuki insurgents and security forces in Manipur. Two women, including Herojit's wife, and an eight-year-old child are among the six people who went missing. Herojit has called for the release of his innocent family and has appealed to any group that may be holding them hostage to return them unharmed. He recalls getting a call from his wife during the violence, which later got disconnected, and a Bengali friend later informed him that they were taken away in a boat.
The Congress party has demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation in light of the escalating violence in Manipur and has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state before the Winter Session of Parliament begins. According to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, the double engine government in Manipur has completely failed and PM Modi should first hold a meeting with an all-party delegation from Manipur before calling an all-party meeting at the national level. The Congress also accused PM Modi of outsourcing Manipur to the Home Minister and highlighted the PM's lack of meetings and communication with the state's leadership. Additionally, both the BJP and Congress have requested a 7-day extension from the Election Commission to address poll code violations.
Amid ongoing tension in Manipur, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into multiple cases of violence, including the burning of houses and killing of civilians by alleged militants. The NIA will also look into the abduction and killing of 6 people from a displaced village and the attack on a CRPF post that resulted in the death of 10 alleged militants. The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with security forces.