Committed to bring normalcy in Manipur, says FM Sitharaman
Committed to bring normalcy in Manipur, says FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the central government is committed to bringing normalcy to Manipur and assured all support for the economic growth of the state
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the
Rajya Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday,
March 18, 2025. (Sansad TV via PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI — Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the central
government is committed to bringing normalcy to Manipur and assured all support
for the economic growth of the state.
Replying to a discussion on the passage of the Manipur
Budget for the current fiscal and vote of account for the six months of 2025-26
in the Rajya Sabha, the minister also sought the support of the Opposition
parties for peace in Manipur instead of engaging in the blame game.
The senior minister also hit back at the Opposition for its
criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi not visiting the violence-affected
state, saying none of the prime ministers in the past visited Manipur when the
violence took place there. She cited the names of former prime ministers PV
Narasimha Rao and IK Gujral.
Sitharaman stated that in 1993 when Manipur was under
Congress rule and Rajkumar Dorendra Singh was the chief minister, a major
flare-up between Nagas and Kukis led to the death of 750 people and the burning
down of 350 villages. However, neither the then Prime Minister PV Narsimha Rao
nor Home Minister Shankarrao Chavan visited the state.
Responding to the Opposition criticism of not paying the
required focus to Manipur, she said the Union Home Minister and Minister of
State for Home visited the state as part of the Centre's efforts to bring
normalcy.
She added that violence in Manipur has adversely impacted
economic activities in the state but expressed confidence that it will recover
swiftly.
"We extend the fullest support to the state...so that
the recovery of Manipur will be sooner than later...We are, all of us here,
committed to getting that state back to some normalcy and we want that state to
grow and prosper as much as any other state," Sitharaman asserted.
Observing that the unrest in Manipur led to a reduction in
economic activities, she said, "With improvement in law and order and
consequent improvement in economic activity, I expect GSDP to show some
recovery this year onwards".
The Opposition has been repeatedly questioning the Centre's
stance on Manipur, and taunting BJP's slogan of 'double engine government'
(government at the Centre and the state).
"Double engine, of course, double engine. That is why
the Home Minister was there (for 4 days), and that is why MoS Home was there
for more than 23 days.
"So, please don't compare how you (Congress) handled
Manipur and how this government is handling Manipur. We have greater
sensitivity, we care for Manipur and every state of this country," the
minister said.
According to the finance minister, the Congress was in power
from 2002 to 2017 in Manipur and at the Centre till 2014 during which the state
witnessed 620 bandhs, several blockades and a loss of Rs 2,828 crore to the
state exchequer.
She reminded the Opposition that in 2011, the worst economic
blockade lasting over 120 days caused severe shortages of essential commodities
shooting up petrol prices at Rs 200 per litre and LPG cylinders at Rs 2,000 per
cylinder but still no minister visited the state.
Narrating several measures taken by the Centre to improve
law and order situations, she said, "Except for some sporadic incidents in
the fringe areas and the unfortunate incident of March 8, 2025, in Kangpokpi,
there has been a decreasing trend in cases of death, injuries, arson, firing
incidents and protests".
"Currently, there are 286 companies of CAPF and 137
companies of the Army and Assam Rifles are deployed along with the state police
to maintain law and order in the state. Looted arms and ammunition are being
recovered. Steps are being taken to ensure free movement along the national
highway. Convoy movements carrying essential commodities are continuing to
ensure the availability of essential commodities in the state," she added.
Sitharaman informed the House that Rs 913 crore have been
given under Special Assistance for State Capital Investment for 2024-25.
"We have also created a Contingency Fund for Manipur
with Rs 500 crore allocated to them," she said.
The state is currently under the President's rule.
Consequent to the Proclamation issued under Article 356 of
the Constitution on February 13, 2025, the powers of the Legislature of the
State of Manipur are exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament.
The total receipts have been pegged at Rs 35,368.19 crore,
up from Rs 32,471.90 crore in 2024-25.
According to documents, the capital outlay has been
increased by 19 per cent to Rs 7,773 crore over the current financial year
ending March 2025.
The Manipur's budget provides over Rs 2,000 crore under
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) and Rs 9,520 crore
for social sector outlay.
For relief and rehabilitation of internally displaced
persons, Rs 15 crore has been provided for temporary shelter to them; Rs 35
crore towards housing for displaced people, Rs 100 crore for relief operation,
and Rs 7 crore for compensation.
A budgetary allocation of Rs 2,866 crore for 2025-26 has
been made towards incentives for police personnel posted in sensitive areas.
The fiscal deficit is estimated at 3.42 per cent of the
GSDP. For 2025-26, the total outstanding debt as a percentage of GSDP is
projected at 37 per cent.
In the Budget Estimate (BE) 2024-25, the total expenditure
was estimated at Rs 34,899 crore. This has been revised to Rs 32,657 crore in
2024-25 Revised Estimates (RE).
Revenue and capital receipts were estimated at Rs 27,716
crore and Rs 7,099 crore, respectively, in BE 2024-25.
This has now been revised to Rs 24,374 crore and Rs 8,098
crore, respectively, in RE 2024-25.
The fiscal deficit for RE 2024-25 is projected at 4 per cent
of the GSDP.
