Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh on October 17 questioned the heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel during anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) protests in Delhi, asking why similar security measures were not taken in Manipur during its prolonged ethnic conflict.
Ghosh made the remarks while responding to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s allegation that opposition parties were seeking regime change along the lines of Bangladesh and using youth energy to spread “anarchy”.
“We do not support anarchy. But when the new generation raises questions on an issue, it is your responsibility to convince them,” Ghosh said.
Questioning the deployment of security forces against young protesters, he argued that similar resources should have been used to address the situation in Manipur.
“You have so much police and paramilitary forces at your disposal. Why deploy them against the youth? You should have sent this many police and paramilitary to Manipur,” he said.
Manipur has witnessed ethnic violence since May 2023, primarily involving the Meitei community in the valley and the Kuki community in the hills. The conflict has resulted in widespread casualties, displacement and continuing tensions.
Ghosh’s remarks came amid protests by opposition parties and youth groups in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls under the SIR exercise.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had called for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march in central Delhi on Friday. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and student leader Neha Bora were among those detained by police ahead of the demonstration.
Protesters later gathered at Connaught Place and other locations amid heightened security.
The demonstrators alleged that voters’ names were being arbitrarily deleted during the electoral roll revision exercise. The BJP, meanwhile, accused opposition parties of politicising the issue and attempting to create unrest.