Rajya Sabha passed a statutory resolution to approve the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur. The decision came after a long debate that started at 2:36 am, just after the House completed a 12-hour-long discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the resolution, which was passed at 3:58 am after 11 Members of Parliament, including Shah, participated in the debate.

This came a day after the Lok Sabha passed the same resolution at 2:40 am on Thursday. In the Lok Sabha too, Amit Shah had moved the resolution at 2 am.

Opposition questions late-night timing and the centre’s actions

During Thursday’s discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge asked the Chair to postpone the debate on Manipur to the next day, saying the Waqf Bill discussion would take too long and not leave enough time for the Manipur issue. However, the Chair denied the request and said that Manipur was already scheduled for discussion that day.

As other opposition leaders also raised the same concern, Amit Shah responded, “Manipur is an important issue. Why don’t you work until late at night for once tonight?”

Kharge, who opened the discussion on Manipur, strongly criticised the government’s handling of the situation. He questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not visited Manipur during the past two years, even after ongoing violence. He also demanded a detailed report or white paper from the government. “I demand an inquiry and a white paper to be presented in the House. Everybody will then know what is happening in the state…. BJP has no plan in place to restore peace. They have allowed conflict to deepen,” Kharge said.

He claimed that instead of restoring peace, the BJP was only focused on protecting its political interests in the state. “The CM should have taken responsibility and resigned. BJP was working to save the CM and not Manipur. The President’s Rule has not been imposed to save Manipur but to save the party’s prospects there,” he added while mentioning several incidents that happened in Manipur over the last two years.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien also questioned the timing of the discussion. “On the last day of the Parliament, you move the resolution. Why did you not bring it in the morning? What is Manipur’s fault? They are Indian citizens. Look at the irony. Discussing Manipur in the dead of the night when there are no prime time or TV channels. Look at Manipur during the day. Look at Manipur in the eye and talk to Manipur,” he said. He also insisted that the prime minister should visit Manipur to understand the situation better.

Amit Shah explains why president’s rule was imposed

In response to the opposition’s criticism, Amit Shah said that the government had been trying to bring both conflicting groups in Manipur to the discussion table. “While the House was in session, two talks have already been held. We are confident that a joint meeting with both groups will soon be held in New Delhi,” he said.

Shah said that the President’s Rule was not imposed because of law-and-order failure, as claimed by the opposition. “There was no violence in November, December, and even until now. The CM had resigned, which paved the way for President's Rule. The claim that Congress was set to bring a no-confidence motion is incorrect. They did not have the numbers. The President’s Rule was imposed only after the governor consulted all parties and no MLAs came forward to stake claim,” he explained.

When one MP asked if the government had a deadline to restore peace in Manipur, Shah replied, “There is a difference between Naxalism and ethnic violence. Allow me to clarify what is happening in Manipur. It is not terrorism or communal clashes. Tackling ethnic clashes is different.” He also said that such ethnic clashes in Manipur have previously lasted from seven months to ten years and pointed out that prime ministers from the INDIA alliance had also not visited the state during those times.

Shah added that the latest round of violence began after a High Court order, which was later cancelled by the Supreme Court. “In the seven years before May 2023, there were no strikes, blockades or curfews in Manipur. There was unrest among the tribal population only after the HC order. There was a feeling of insecurity that spread after the HC order. The situation was volatile. The SC has already set aside the order,” he said.

When Derek O’Brien mentioned crimes against women in Manipur, Shah responded by comparing the situation to West Bengal. “Yes, there were crimes against women. But it was ethnic in Manipur between two groups. What happened in Bengal was not ethnic clashes. What happened in Sandeshkhali? For years, women were subjected to harassment there, and your government did nothing. Nothing was done in RG Kar. In fact, some of your own party members were involved in the crime. In Manipur’s case, we do not support one group or the other,” Shah said.

He also said that the BJP has never politicised the issue of Manipur. “I checked the records of the past ethnic clashes and found that BJP had never tried to take political advantage, unlike what some opposition leaders are doing today,” he claimed.

President’s rule and what it means for Manipur

President’s Rule was officially imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, four days after then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned on February 9. His resignation came nearly two years after Manipur witnessed continuous ethnic violence, which has killed at least 260 people and displaced over 50,000 residents.

Though the state assembly has not been dissolved, it has been placed under “suspended animation”. This means that the assembly still exists, and the elected MLAs will continue to be members, but no one is currently in power. This allows for the possibility that a new government could be formed later if any party is able to show majority support in the House.

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