Centre Committed to Restoring Normalcy in Manipur, Says FM Sitharaman

Centre Committed to Restoring Normalcy in Manipur, Says FM Sitharaman

By Panthunggi Paodam
March 19, 2025 |

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to bringing peace and stability to ethnic strife-hit Manipur during a heated discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Addressing concerns over the ongoing crisis in the northeastern state, she assured comprehensive support for its economic growth while dismissing Opposition criticism of the Modi government’s policies, including the Make in India initiative.

Speaking during the debate on four money bills—including Manipur’s FY26 budget, supplementary demands for grants, and excess demands—Sitharaman highlighted a new ₹500-crore contingency fund proposed in the state’s budget to address emerging challenges. “Manipur has faced crises for decades, and every government has handled it with sensitivity,” she said, noting that the discussion veered more toward the state’s unrest than its budget.

Responding to Opposition barbs about the failure of the BJP’s “double-engine government” to resolve the Manipur crisis, Sitharaman pointed to historical failures under Congress rule. She recalled the 120-day economic blockade in 2011 under a Congress-led central and state government, which she said “worsened the situation,” and a violent Kuki-Naga clash in 1993 that left 750 dead and 350 villages destroyed. “We are all committed to bringing normalcy back to Manipur and ensuring its growth,” she emphasized, urging unity over finger-pointing.

Economic Progress and Policy Defense

Beyond Manipur, Sitharaman tackled broader economic critiques, asserting that inequality in India is declining and extreme poverty has been eradicated under PM Modi’s leadership. Citing improvements in the Gini coefficient—a measure of income inequality—she noted rural inequality dropped from 0.283 in 2011-12 to 0.237 in 2023-24, while urban inequality fell from 0.363 to 0.284 over the same period. Quoting a study by economists Surjit Bhalla and Karan Bhasin in The Economist, she said, “Extreme poverty has been eliminated in India.”

Defending the Make in India scheme, the FM rejected claims of its failure, highlighting that the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) initiative has attracted ₹1.5 lakh crore in investments, created 9.5 lakh jobs, and boosted exports worth ₹4 lakh crore. “Step after step, we’ve strengthened manufacturing,” she said, contrasting this with the Congress-led UPA’s delayed National Manufacturing Policy and “quick-fix” free trade agreements that she claimed harmed Indian industry.

Political Tensions in the House

The session saw uproar from TMC members, prompting a walkout, which Sitharaman criticized sharply. “This House is not a street in Kolkata where they can scream, shout, pelt stones, and run away,” she remarked, accusing the Opposition of stifling debate. After her reply, the Rajya Sabha cleared the four bills, previously passed by the Lok Sabha on March 11.

Manipur’s Ongoing Strife

Sitharaman’s assurances come amid fresh violence in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, where clashes between the Hmar and Zomi communities left one dead on March 18, despite a peace deal earlier that day. The state, under President’s Rule since February, remains a focal point of national concern as the Centre strives to restore order.

Stay updated with Panthunggi Paodam for more on Manipur and national developments.