Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern Monday over the current situation in violence-hit Manipur. Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP government is not providing a clear picture of the death toll in the northeastern state where shoot-at-sight orders are in force.
Banerjee also lashed out at the BJP government in the Centre for not sending a single representative to Manipur to review the situation.
While speaking to reporters at the state secretariat here, Banerjee urged the people of Karnataka to vote for stability and development, and not for the BJP.
“I am quite tense with the situation in Manipur. We are not getting a clear picture of the number of deaths in shoot-at-sight (order) as the state government is not giving any information,” Banerjee said. She also claimed that the Manipur violence is a man-made problem.
Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the 10 hill districts May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leading to the deaths of at least 54 people.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals – Nagas and Kukis – constitute another 40 per cent of the population and live in the hill districts.