1-day Manipur assembly session ends within an hour amid ruckus

The first assembly session in Manipur since ethnic clashes broke out in the state lasted less than an hour on Tuesday as legislators from the Opposition Congress party raised slogans and demanded that the House sit for five days, instead of one, to discuss the violence that has killed at least 157 people in nearly four months.

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The proceedings began at llam with lawmakers observing silence for two minutes for those killed in the violence that erupted on May 3 between the dominant Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community. Before the session closed 40 minutes later, chief minister N Biren Singh addressed the House and the assembly adopted a resolution pledging to bridge differences among the people.

All the 10 Kuki legislators -including two ministers Letpao Haokip (horticulture) and Nemcha Kipgen (commerce and industries) were absent from the House. They had earlier said that the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley was not safe for them to attend the session. All 10 Naga lawmakers, however, were present in the House, as were all the Meitei members.

At 11.09am, assembly speaker Th Satyabrata Singh adjourned the House for 30 minutes after all five Congress legislators, led by former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, raised slogans and displaying placards demanding a five-day session.