Manipur BJP unit protests against Central and State BJP for inaction in MLA’s death

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit from Thanlon in Manipur’s Churachandpur district protested against the central BJP and State BJP for failing to ensure justice for party MLA Vungzagin Valte.

Valte, a BJP MLA from the Zomi tribe, who represented the Thanlon constituency, passed away on February 21 at a private hospital in Haryana’s Gurugram. He never recovered from injuries after he was assaulted by a mob on May 4, 2023, when ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people erupted in the State.

His body is being preserved at the morgue of the Churachandpur District Hospital. The family as well as community leaders have refused the burial till their demands, which includes a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and a political solution, are met.

The Thanlon unit of the BJP said in a statement that the family and the community continue to wait for justice in the attack that eventually claimed Valte’s life. “Despite the death of a sitting MLA belonging to the ruling party, there has been no visible accountability for those responsible for the assault. Calls for a fair and independent investigation, including demands for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe, have yet to receive any official written response,” the statement said.

Even though the situation remains unresolved, the State government had announced the resumption of the Manipur Legislative Assembly session on March 9, it added.

“For many in Thanlon and across the hill districts, this decision has raised a troubling question: how can the Assembly resume its proceedings while justice for one of its own members remains unresolved and his mortal remains still await closure?” the statement said.

Around 50-60 people sat in a protest outside the hospital.

“As BJP supporters, we expected swift justice for a BJP MLA. Instead, members of the Thanlon BJP Mandal have had to travel over 100 kilometres to Churachandpur to protest. If a sitting MLA cannot get justice, what hope is there for ordinary victims of the violence?” the statement, quoting Chingnou, a BJP party worker from Thanlon, said.

The statement added that Valte was a BJP MLA, and the BJP remains in power both in the State and at the Centre. Yet, justice had not moved forward in his case. Many in Thanlon were beginning to question their political faith if justice could not be delivered, even to a legislator belonging to the ruling establishment, the statement said.