Manipur Violence: Ban On Broadband Partially Withdrawn, Mobile Internet To Remain Suspended

Imphal: The Manipur government on Tuesday lifted the suspension on broadband internet conditionally in a "liberalised manner", nearly three months after it was banned due to the ethnic violence in the state. However, mobile internet will remain suspended, the Home Department said in a notification.

"Connection will be only through static IP and the subscriber concerned shall not accept any other connection other than allowed for the time being [TSP/ISP shall be held responsible for non-compliance of this condition]," it said.

"No Wifi Hotspots shall be allowed from any of the routers and systems using the connection at any cost by the subscriber concerned," it said.

The government has considered the suffering of the people as the internet ban affected offices and institutions, and people working from home, besides mobile recharge, LPG cylinder booking, payment of electricity bills, and other online services, the order said.

It said the suspension on broadband internet has been lifted in a liberalised manner, subject to fulfilment of several terms and conditions.

More than 160 people have lost their lives and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a "Tribal Solidarity March" was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.

Lok Sabha Speaker meets floor leaders to end logjam over Manipur violence

Amid continued logjam in Lok Sabha over a debate on Manipur violence, Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday convened an all-party meeting of floor leaders, in a bid to end the impasse but the government and opposition stuck to their respective stands.

Opposition floor leaders insisted on a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the government said Home Minister Amit Shah would reply to the debate on Manipur violence, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal told reporters after the meeting.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said opposition party leaders were told that the government is ready for discussion on Manipur and can be held any day the Speaker decides.

"There are several important bills and we do not want them to be passed without discussion. We want constructive discussion. We urged them with folded hands to participate in the discussion," he told reporters.

"We are ready to participate in discussion on Manipur on any day the Speaker decides, even tomorrow if the Speaker decides so. Our Home Minister will give a detailed reply to the discussion," he added.

Leaders of both the opposition side and the treasury benches put across their points at the meeting.

Meghwal said the opposition leaders then said they will discuss the matter with their senior leader and convey their stand on the issue soon.

"We are trying to end the deadlock but opposition parties are coming up with a new demand," Meghwal claimed.

"Earlier they were demanding a discussion on Manipur. When we said we are ready for discussion, they demanded that the Prime Minister start the discussion," Meghwal said.

"Now they are saying why did the Prime Minister speak on Manipur before coming to Parliament," he said, accusing the opposition parties of looking for new excuses as they are "frustrated and disappointed."

While Birla had been informally meeting leaders of various parties to resolve the impasse, Tuesday was the first structured all-party meeting of floor leaders called by him.

Since the Monsoon session began on Thursday, both Houses have witnessed continued disruptions by the opposition demanding a statement by the Prime Minister. After continued disruptions, this was Birla's fresh attempt to end the logjam.

Deputy Leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Shah have told Lok Sabha that the government was ready for a discussion.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also held a meeting on Monday with opposition leaders from the Upper House, including Jairam Ramesh, BRS' K Keshava Rao, BJD's Sasmit Patra and AAP's Raghav Chadha as well to resolve the deadlock.

Defence Minister Singh, BJP sources said, has separately spoken to opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress and DMK leader T R Baalu, in an attempt to break the impasse but in vain.