On Union minister's ‘Manipur has failed' remark, Priyanka Chaturvedi's ‘his colleague’ question

Union minister RK Ranjan Singh, whose residence at Kongba in Imphal was torched by a mob on Thursday late night, criticised the law and order situation in Manipur stating that he is in a state of “shock”.

“I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed,” the Union minister of state for external affairs told reporters.

Singh said his own house was burned down by a mob and it was not a communal issue.

"My own house has been burned down. That's my own sweat... hard-earned money. I am not corrupt. No one is corrupt in this regime. If this was something religious, then I am a Hindu. The attackers were Hindus. So, this is not religious. This is a mob," Ranjan Singh.

The central minister said he has been trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3 when the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur.

"There was an incident at my residence in Manipur last night. I have been trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3...this is all a misunderstanding between two communities. The government has set up a peace committee, the process is on. Civil society leaders are sitting together," he said.

Singh, also a BJP leader, cancelled all his party programmes in Kerala and left for his home state following the incident.

Reacting to Ranjan Singh's comments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday questioned the government. “That’s a sitting minister in the government, not an opposition MP. Is his colleague in the cabinet - the Home Minister listening?” Chaturvedi tweeted.

Miscreants torched the residence while the minister was in Kerala.

“It is extremely sad to see what happened last night. I was told that more than 50 miscreants attacked my home at around 10pm. Damage has been done to the ground floor and the first floor of my residence. Neither me, or anybody from my family was present during that time. Thankfully, nobody got injured,” news agency ANI quoted Ranjan Singh as saying.

Ranjan Singh, who comes from the Meiti community, has continued to appeal to both sides to stay away from violence and restore peace in the state.

"An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind. Violence doesn't help any cause. Those who are indulging in this violence are doing a huge disservice to the nation. It also reflects that they are enemies of humanity," Singh told ANI.

On June 14 in Imphal East, nine people were killed while more than 10 were injured. Yesterday, the state government extended the clamp on internet in the state up to June 20.

On Wednesday, miscreants tried to burn down the official residence of Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West. His home was partly burnt.

Chief minister N Biren Singh said the government was holding discussions at multiple levels and assured that action will be taken against those involved in violence. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Biren Singh said, "As per our commitment, we are contacting everyone, we are discussing at various levels. The governor has also constituted a peace committee and consultation with peace committee members will start. I hope that with the support of the people of the state, we will achieve peace at the earliest."

He said that it is not easy to say that the situation will improve suddenly but the incidents of violence are reducing in the state.

Since the last month and a half, there have been restrictions in the state of Manipur, including clamp down on the internet.

Trinamool seeks ‘urgent’ meeting of parliamentary panel

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien wrote to the chairman of the standing committee for home affairs demanding a discussion urgently on the situation of violence in Manipur.

A copy of the letter by the AITC leader to the parliamentary panel chairman reads, “The recent incidents of violence in Manipur have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of the people residing in the region. Reportedly, many are dead and thousands have been displaced.”

“Shoot-at-sight orders have further added to the atmosphere of fear in the state. It is imperative that we understand the ground reality and assess the extent of the violence. In this regard, holding a standing committee meeting to discuss the ongoing violence in Manipur would provide first hand insights into the situation”, the letter mentioned.

Manipur Congress MLAs seek Modi meeting

Congress MLAs from the state reached the national capital and sought an appointment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to HT, president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Keisham Meghachandra Singh said, “Right now also, cross firing continues in Manipur and mostly in the periphery area and the state. The central government is still not doing anything about it and Prime Minister Modi never made a comment on it. After 26 days, union home minister Amit Shah left Imphal, but violence still continues and today on the 40th day.”