A ‘fact-finding’ team of five MPs of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) arrived in Imphal on July 19 to take ground zero stock of the prevailing crisis in Manipur, ahead of the Parliament session to be commenced from July 20.
Soon after their arrival at the Imphal airport, the team dashed to Churachandpur by a chopper, one of the Kuki-dominated hill districts.
The members of the team were Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O’Brien MP, Dola Sen and Sushmita Dev and Lok Sabha MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Kakoli Ghosh Dastindar.
Talking to reporters on their arrival at the Imphal airport, MP Dola Sen said they came to Manipur to listen to the affected people of both the conflicting communities and know the ground reality of the situation.
She said that the team will also meet the Manipur governor after visiting relief camps of the displaced people of both the communities by the violence.
“We are to hear the people of Manipur. We have been sent by our leader Mamata Banerjee. After visiting the displaced people we will communicate with her and will work out what will be our next course of action,” she said.
MP Sushmita Dev added that the AITC team is here as the party would like to see everyone to co-exist in the state peacefully.
She further said that after coming back from Churachandpur, the team will visit relief camps in other districts including Imphal East and Imphal West and later the AITC delegation will meet the governor of Manipur.
Just landed in Manipur. Will meet people of all communities of the state & hear everyone’s voice as directed by our Chairperson of @AITCofficial
Our first visit is to Churanchandpur & then we will visit camps in Imphal.
— Sushmita Dev সুস্মিতা দেব (@SushmitaDevAITC) July 19, 2023
She informed that the governor had given assent to meet even though they are yet to seek formal appointment.
She added that the AITC is with the people of Manipur while giving her assurance that the party will raise the issue in the parliament during the upcoming session.
However, responding to another query, the MP said: “We are deeply saddened to see that the prime minister has remained silent during this difficult time in Manipur.”
At the same time, she said that the party hoped for return of peace in the state at the earliest and the party will try its best for the same.
