Manipur issue to be raised in Parliament's Winter Session, says Congress MP Christopher Tilak

Congress Rajya Sabha MP and All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Manipur, Christopher Tilak, on Saturday, November 14 said the worsening situation in the state would be raised during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, alleging that the government had failed to bring the situation under control.

Tilak made the remarks during his visit to the mortuary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal, where he met the bereaved families of four Naga civilians killed in an ambush allegedly carried out by suspected Kuki militants along the Imphal-Ukhrul road near New Heaven on November 13. The bodies of the victims were brought to JNIMS on Saturday.

The deceased were identified as Kapangkhui Raihing and his mother, Haoleila Raihing, residents of Shangshak village, and Augustine Ngalung and his sister, Tanmila, from Tashar village.

Members of the Naga and Meitei communities, along with representatives of civil society organisations and local residents, gathered at JNIMS to offer prayers and floral tributes to the victims. Tilak was accompanied by office-bearers of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

Condemning the killings, Tilak expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and called for the restoration of peace in the state.

"It is unfortunate to see the bereaved families. What would be the future of the children of those who have been killed? Peace should be restored in Manipur," he said, adding that killings had become increasingly common in the state.

Tilak also alleged that a larger agenda could be behind the ongoing conflict and questioned the government's ability to address the situation.

He said the prolonged unrest had severely affected Manipur's economy and that the situation was deteriorating instead of improving. He also expressed doubts over the government's ability to resolve the crisis.

The Congress leader said he had visited Manipur several times since the violence spread across almost all districts and had witnessed the hardships and suffering of people.

Referring to the Congress party's attempts to raise the Manipur crisis in Parliament during previous sessions, Tilak said the party had not been given an opportunity to take up the issue.

However, he assured that the Congress would raise the deteriorating situation in Manipur during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.