Sonia Gandhi, the former president of the Congress party, has shown support to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh for his efforts in addressing the Manipur issue in Parliament. This unexpected display of camaraderie between the two political parties has surprised many, considering their previously strained relationship.
Outside of Parliament, members of the INDIA alliance have been staging a sit-in protest, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi provide a statement on the Manipur issue in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. As part of their protest, they gathered near the Gandhi statue for a candle-light vigil last night.
Sanjay Singh shared a video on Twitter documenting his meeting with Sonia Gandhi. In the video, she expressed her support for the movement against the violence in Manipur, stating, “My support is with you.” Singh has been leading the sit-in protest, and even though he has been suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the session, he remains committed to the cause.
Undeterred by heavy rain, Singh took to Twitter to update his followers on the second day of the protest, remarking, “Perhaps God is also crying over the condition of Manipur.” He questioned why Prime Minister Modi had yet to address the issue in Parliament, emphasizing the importance of discussing the situation in Manipur.
Other opposition MPs, including those from the AAP, joined Singh in the protest, several of them holding placards that read, “INDIA for Manipur.” Restoring Singh’s position in the upper house of Parliament is one of the demands made by the protestors.
However, the government has refused to meet the opposition’s demand for the Prime Minister to address the House regarding the situation in Manipur. Sources reveal that this is not the first instance of violence occurring in the northeastern state, but no Prime Minister had ever visited Manipur during previous incidents in 1993 and 1997. In the past, the matter was not discussed in Parliament, with only one instance where the Minister of State for Home had issued a statement.
In contrast, the current situation in Manipur is under control, with no reported deaths due to violence in the last 15 days. The government has decided that only the Home Minister will speak on the Manipur situation.
While the confrontation between the opposition and the government continues, it is evident that the solidarity between the Congress and AAP, as demonstrated by Sonia Gandhi’s support for Sanjay Singh, has brought a new dynamic to the political landscape. The alliance aims to ensure that the Manipur issue receives the attention it deserves, urging the government to address the concerns of the people affected by the violence in the state.