Narendra Modi who speaks on everything under the sun, elaborating on the trivial details of how the citizens should come to the balcony at what time and bang a thali for how many minutes, failed to deliver the minimal demand of a statement on Manipur in Parliament, compelling the united Opposition to ask if the Prime Minister was only for electioneering and PR stunts.

The members of INDIA combine wondered whether the Manipur situation wasn’t serious enough to deserve a few words from the Prime Minister, whose speeches on assorted subjects have become the most striking feature of governance and politics today. Or, the Opposition leaders asked, Modi had to be protected by the government because he doesn’t have the courage to face the truth.

Many Opposition MPs expressed outrage at the Prime Minister's attitude, recalling how he had time to spend on flagging off trains, attending small inaugural functions, talking about irrelevant things and addressing public rallies. Some MPs who went to Manipur said the Prime Minister was apathetic when thousands of people were struggling for survival in relief camps which faced shortages of food, medicine and other basic necessities.

After the Opposition delegation that visited Manipur briefed the top leadership on the ground situation, Congress president and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said: "While Manipur faced turmoil, the Modi government appeared indifferent. Our INDIA alliance MPs, after visiting the state, heard heart-wrenching stories of pain from the people. They engaged with all communities. Over 50,000 people, including 10,000 innocent children, are in relief camps with inadequate facilities, especially for women, and facing shortages of medicines and food."

Kharge added: "Economic activities have come to a halt, with children unable to attend school, farmers ceasing their farming, and people grappling with both financial losses and psychological hardships. The divide between communities is deeply concerning. Despite time for poll rallies, self-PR, train inaugurations, and attending BJP meetings, Modi seems to have no time to address the anguish and suffering of Manipur's people or work towards resolving inter-community issues. The Modi government appears clueless and rudderless in handling the Manipur situation, evident in the absence of a comprehensive statement in Parliament.”

Commenting on the attempts to push a debate under Rule 176 in the absence of the Prime Minister from Parliament, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said: "This is the worst kind of political dishonesty. The government is trampling parliamentary traditions. There is no rule of law in Manipur but it appears the chief minister responsible for the state-sponsored violence is being protected by the Prime Minister. Even the Chair’s attitude is disappointing.”

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh defended the Opposition’s rigid stand, saying: "The INDIA parties stuck to their position in the Rajya Sabha this afternoon. The Prime Minister must make a statement in the House on what has happened in Manipur over the past 90 days on which he has maintained an eloquent silence. Thereafter there should be a debate and discussion. The INDIA parties want this under Rule 267 which means that given the seriousness of the issue being raised all other business of the House gets suspended till the debate is over. It is not the INDIA parties that are running away from a debate on Manipur. It is actually the Prime Minister who is running away from giving a statement in the Rajya Sabha.”

While Trinamul MP Derek O'Brien said the government wanted to complete the formality by conducting a two-minute noodles debate, Sushmita Dev expressed outrage at the BJP leaders describing the Opposition delegation’s tour of the state as “tourism”.

Many MPs said there was a need for an all-party delegation, apart from the Prime Minister's visit. CPI member P. Santosh said: "This was my second visit, In 20 days, I saw no difference. Nothing has changed on the ground. The plight of the relief camps is pathetic."

RJD member Manoj Jha said: "Looking at Manipur from Delhi, we had all the information. But being there… it is very difficult to bear with those images. Whether it is the Meitei community or the Kuki community, it’s disrupted, everywhere. We have seen genocidal intent. We should see this as a crime against humanity. The people need a psychological healing touch. There is no alternative to peaceful coexistence, from Madhya Pradesh to Manipur.”