In the early hours of Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a statutory resolution in the Lok Sabha, calling for the continuation of President’s Rule in Manipur. This was after a marathon 12-hour discussion on The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The resolution, introduced around 2 AM, was passed by a voice vote after a 40-minute exchange, during which eight opposition lawmakers raised concerns about the ongoing situation in Manipur.
Shah responded to the opposition’s queries by asserting that there had been no significant violence in the state over the past four months. He emphasized that the government had acted promptly, noting that the proclamation for President’s Rule came just two months after it was imposed. Shah urged all members to come together to support the resolution, emphasizing that the primary goal was to restore peace and heal the wounds caused by the recent ethnic violence in the state.
The Home Minister strongly denied claims that the government had mishandled the crisis, explaining that the violence had erupted in the wake of a High Court order that had been misinterpreted by different groups. He clarified that there was no delay in the government’s response and pointed out that security forces had been deployed immediately after the court’s decision.
Shah also reflected on the long-standing ethnic tensions in Manipur, stating that previous outbreaks of violence had dragged on for years. He urged the opposition not to politicize the situation, calling the conflict “ethnic clashes” rather than terrorism or rioting. The Home Minister also mentioned that during previous violent episodes, former Home Ministers had not visited the state, in contrast to his own visit.
Addressing the death toll, Shah stated that of the 260 reported deaths, at least 80% occurred in the first month of the violence. He outlined several measures the Centre had taken under President’s Rule, including regular meetings with both ethnic groups and civil society representatives. Shah assured the House that a joint meeting would take place soon, signaling the government’s continued efforts to restore peace in the region.
While acknowledging that the situation had improved, with only two injuries reported in the last four months, Shah made it clear that the government would not consider the situation fully resolved until displaced families could safely return to their homes from the camps.
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