Lok Sabha debates Manipur budget; implement central schemes in a better way, urges MP

Outer Manipur MP Alfred Kanngam S Arthur made an impassioned plea for better implementation of central schemes and overall development as the Lok Sabha discussed the budget for Manipur on Tuesday.

Punching holes in the budget, the Congress MP said, "I would request the Speaker to give me an opportunity to relinquish my post as member of Parliament and not come back here again because I have stood up and spoken on the injustice done to my state a number of times and nothing has happened."

Arthur flagged non-payment of dues under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to the state. "There are only 25 man days of work given in Manipur," he said. When BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the proceedings, said that it was a demand-driven scheme, Arthur said, "If the Centre does not pay the dues to the state, why will the workers come for work? For the last two years, dues of Manipur have not been cleared. The last payment was made in March 2023."


The Congress MP said that central ministers are oblivious to the implementation of projects on the ground. "Manipur is an agrarian state. But how do we sustain ourselves?" he said, adding that ministers should visit the state to understand the quality of work.

"Road transport minister says that a lot of good work is being done by his ministry. I will show him the roads his ministry is building if he comes to the state... Everything that the finance minister says is only on paper," Arthur said.