New Delhi, Aug 12: The Rajya Sabha on Monday returned the Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025, and The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025 amid opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue.
A brief debate on the Bills was also held.
The Manipur Appropriation Bill authorises payment and appropriation of certain sums out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Manipur for services of the financial year 2025-26.
The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to implement the decisions approved by the GST Council, would replace the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
Opposition MPs, who took out a march to the Election Commission’s headquarters on Monday, but were stopped midway and detained, reached the Upper House as the debate on the bills was being undertaken.
The INDIA bloc MPs wanted Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to be allowed to speak, and they raised slogans against the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while replying to the debate on the Bills, accused the Opposition of opposing the Manipur budget. She called the Manipur budget one of the progressive, confidence-building budgets.
“Both Bills are very critical for Manipur… I am happy to see the Opposition come back to the House. I would expect them to participate in this and allow the Bills to be passed in a law, and respect that we have a Constitutional duty to perform,” Sitharaman said.
“I would hope the Opposition, which has taken a lot of interest in Manipur otherwise, will take interest in this and allow Manipur to get its money which is due,” she said.
“PM Modi has ensured Manipur’s development does not suffer, at the same time the internally displaced people who are in camps… should be given assistance,” she said.
The finance minister said additional allocations being given will support immediate requirements, like the rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons, security related expenditure, and deployment of CAPFs.
“For long-term sustainability of Manipur’s public finance, Government of India is allowing Manipur to pre-pay its high interest loans… Loan burden on Manipur is being reduced by asking them to repay those loans, for that Rs 633 crore has been provided,” she said.
As the voting on the Bills took place, Opposition MPs were heard saying “no”. Sitharaman slammed them for opposing the Manipur Budget.
“While the Opposition speaks about Manipur, when its budget and GST bills are being taken up, they are not just protesting on some other issue, but also voting against it…” she said.
The two Bills, which were both Money Bills, were returned to the Lok Sabha through voice vote.
Earlier, participating in the debate, BJP MP from Manipur Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba urged the Union government to ensure free movement of Meiteis on the two national highways in the state, rehabilitation for around 55,600 internally displaced persons, and reinstating a “popular government” in the state. He also stressed that “foreign nationals” in the state should be identified and deported.
“The president’s rule in Manipur should take necessary action regarding MHA advisory of May 19, 2025 for identification, detection and deportation of “illegal foreign nationals” within one months,” he said. “No action was taken by state government, this advisory should be expedited based on 1961 as cut year before conducting census and delimitation process,” he said.
He also said the “porus” Indo-Myanmar border should be monitored and checked by some neutral central force.
Golla Baburao (YSRCP) suggested that the “disparities” among those living in the hills and the valley in Manipur should be reduced, and suggested opening land trade through Myanmar.
Muzibulla Khan of BJD said the budget was for those whose lives have been marred by uncertainty and displacement.
“Instead of coming up with comprehensive rehabilitation planning, you are giving these allocations. They may not reach the ground,” he said. “BJP’s double engine in Manipur has been left without fuel,” he said. (PTI)
