Ukhrul: Member of Parliament Alfred Kan-ngam Shangshakwoshi Arthur from the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, in his debut speech, slammed the Union Budget for ignoring Manipur despite the ongoing violence and the worst flood the state has witnessed. Speaking during the Budget Session of Parliament on Tuesday, the Indian National Congress MP, who represents Manipur Hills, also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the violence-hit state even after fifteen months.
Alfred Arthur began by remarking that Manipur has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. He criticized the Union Budget presented by the Union Finance Minister for 2024-2025, stating, “I think she fails to understand that, at this juncture, Manipur is facing the lowest per capita income and the highest inflation. How do you expect the state to survive?” he questioned.
He noted that the flood Manipur experienced was unprecedented and the worst in the last 35 years.
The Manipur Congress MP also highlighted his family’s contribution to India, recalling Major Ralengnao (Bob) Khathing, his grand uncle, a Tangkhul Naga Soldier-Statesman from Manipur who secured Tawang for India without shedding a drop of blood.
Alfred Arthur said that he has been sent to the Parliament by his electorate with complete trust and “not to listen to fictitious figures that is brought to this august house,” he said.
Addressing his speech to the Speaker, he said, “This nation I have been brought up to believe is bigger than individuals… I have grown, played with, wondered around with, studied with, with wonderful friends across different races, different religions, different communities. And yet, I have never felt in my life a need for saying that I’m a Christian today. I don’t ever want to ever speak out that I’m a Christian, a Hindu or a Muslim — I should not have had the need to. Today why am ‘I having this fear and this need to express my desires of wanting to be a free Indian within this nation’s rules and laws,” he said.
The Congress MP also took a jibe over the flood of Union Minister who visited Manipur before the conflict. He criticized the lack of visits by Union Ministers to Manipur after the conflict began on May 3, 2023. “Since the NDA government came to power in 2014, there has not been a single day or week without a Union Minister visiting Manipur. Where are they now, after May 3, 2023?” he questioned.
Alfred Arthur to his credit popularized the slogan in the 18th Lok Sabha session, “Manipur ko nyay dilaye” [“Justice for Manipur”] at the end of his oath-taking as an MP. He had uttered in Hindi, “Justice for Manipur, save the nation!”
Also read | A New Voice in Parliament: Akoijam’s Fiery Debut Sets High Bar for Alfred Arthur
Alfred Arthur’s maiden speech brings back the focus on Manipur violence and demand for resolution to the almost year and half long conflict, yet again.
It is worth noting that Dr. A Bimol Akoijam from Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency MP had in his maiden speech condemned the Union government’s silence on the ongoing crisis in Manipur. “I will keep quiet the moment Prime Minister opens his mouth and the nationalist party says that Manipur is part of India, and say that we care about the people of that state [Manipur]. Only then I will accept what is nationalism in our face,” Bimol had said.
Dr. Bimol Akoijam had criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence for not addressing the situation despite the escalating violence and suffering in the state. He further criticized the BJP’s policies and questioned the absence of any meaningful intervention to protect the state’s year long crisis and the suffering of its people.
Also read | PM Modi Breaks his Silence on Manipur Violence, Calls for Unity, Vows Peace
It may be mentioned that the INC candidates from INDIA bloc triumphed in both parliamentary seats in Manipur, decisively defeating their closest rivals from the ruling BJP and Nag People’s Front.
Interesting fact: Alfred Arthur is the fourth Member of Parliament from the Tangkhul Naga tribe of Manipur to be elected after 44 years, since the last MP Yangmaso Shaiza from the same tribe in 1977 General polls. It is also worth noting that the first and second MPs from Manipur’s Outer Parliamentary Constituency were Rishang Keishing in 1952, a contemporary of Jawaharlal Nehru, and Suisa Rungsung, respectively. It is noteworthy that the Tangkhul Naga tribe is the only tribal community in Manipur state to have produced two Chief Ministers from the Manipur hills. Notably, Yangmaso Shaiza, and Rishang Keishing – a veteran Tangkhul Naga politician, served as Chief Minister for four terms and was once India’s oldest Parliamentarian.
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