Power Corridors brings you the voices of the MPs who spoke during the Lok Sabha session on March 11, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Manipur budget. While the text will not be a verbatim transcript, it closely captures the essence of their speeches. Often, only a fraction of what is said in Parliament reaches the public, and this series aims to bridge that gap, helping the people of Manipur understand how their concerns were addressed. In this first installment, we spotlight the powerful speech of Manipur Outer MP Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur.
New Delhi/March 15
In a detailed and impassioned address during the discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2024-25, Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur, Member of Parliament from Outer Manipur, criticized the Union Government for violating constitutional provisions related to the state of Manipur. Arthur expressed deep concerns over the neglect of the state’s hill areas and the government’s failure to adhere to Article 371(C) of the Indian Constitution.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Arthur began by reminding the House of the oath he had taken to uphold the Constitution of India. He emphasized that Article 371(C) is a significant provision that aims to ensure the proper representation and welfare of the hill areas of Manipur. Reading out the article, Arthur said:
“Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may, by order made with respect to the State of Manipur, provide for the constitution and functions of a committee of the Legislative Assembly of the State consisting of members of that Assembly elected from the Hill Areas of that State, for the modifications to be made in the rules of business of the Government and in the rules of procedure of the Legislative Assembly of the State and for any special responsibility of the Governor in order to secure the proper functioning of such committee.”
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Arthur pointed out that the Presidential Proclamation of June 20, 1972, by the former President V.V. Giri, explicitly mandated that any Five-Year Plans or annual plans for the state must include the views of the Hill Area Committee before finalization. According to him, the current budgetary process disregarded this constitutional requirement, bypassing the committee entirely.
“I have belief in our Constitution, and I am certain that this House too believes in it. However, we have already bypassed our Constitution through this Budget,” Arthur asserted. He expressed frustration over the complexity of the budget document, noting that, despite having experience in the state legislature and now in Parliament, this was the first time he had encountered such a complicated presentation.
The MP criticized the disproportionate allocation of resources between the hill areas, predominantly inhabited by tribal communities, and the valley. He cautioned that such disparities could lead to further unrest and instability. “The disproportionate assets should not be created between the hills and the valley. About 95 or 98 percent of the hills are occupied by the tribals in Manipur. When disproportionate assets are created, problems do occur,” he warned.
Arthur recalled a meeting of the Hill Area Committee with former President Shri Ramnath Kovind, the then Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, and other senior leaders, including Shri G. Kishan Reddy. The delegation presented the issues faced by the hill areas, seeking their intervention. Despite the assurances given, Arthur lamented that no corrective measures had been taken.
Turning to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Arthur highlighted the severe delays in the release of funds. According to him, 50% of the material component for the financial year 2023-24 had not been released, and no funds had been allocated for 2024-25. This delay, he argued, severely affected the livelihoods of marginalized communities dependent on the scheme.
“How does the Government expect those poverty-stricken, marginalized people to create more? How are they going to work more if this is a committed liability scheme? The Union Government does not even clear the dues of 2023-24,” Arthur questioned.
The Chairperson, i Jagdambika Pal, intervened to clarify that NREGA is a demand-driven scheme with a 60:40 labor-to-material ratio. However, Arthur maintained that the government’s failure to clear past dues and its lack of budgetary provisions were injustices to the state.
Alfred KS Arthur INC Manipur MP tears into the Narendra Modi Government.
He questions why the former CM Biren Singh the perpetrator of the Manipur Violence is still not behind bars ? pic.twitter.com/0chBpOpToo
— Ravinder Kapur. (@RavinderKapur2) March 14, 2025
“I know the facts and figures, and I am very clear on this. The Government has not released funds. There is an injustice to the State. The Government is not even increasing the budget, let alone clearing the dues. Two years’ dues are not yet cleared,” he stated firmly.
Arthur further criticized the state of the National Social Assistance Program, including the National Old-Age Pension Scheme and the widow pension scheme. He pointed out that the last payments under these schemes were made in March 2023, and there were no indications in the current budget of clearing the pending dues.
“Why are those schemes there when the most marginalized people are left to die? I have not seen the budget reflecting that they will pay off. Nothing is given here,” he argued, condemning the government’s neglect of the most vulnerable sections of society.
Arthur also expressed disappointment over the lack of developmental focus on Manipur, noting that it has the lowest per capita income in the country. He questioned the role of the NITI Aayog, the Planning Commission, and the Central Government in addressing the state’s economic disparities.
“Manipur is the lowest per capita income generating state in the nation. I repeat, it is the lowest per capita income generating state. Why has the NITI Aayog, or the Planning Commission, or the Central Government not made sure that course corrections have been made so that we also increase our GSDP?”
Arthur urged the government to fulfill its constitutional obligations to Manipur’s hill areas, address the disparities in budget allocations, and prioritize the welfare of marginalized communities. Raising significant concerns over the lack of budgetary provisions for agriculture, infrastructure, and the rehabilitation of displaced citizens, Arthur described the budget as “anti-people” and a reflection of neglect toward the challenges faced by the people of Manipur.
Addressing the issue of agriculture and horticulture, Arthur lamented the absence of any increase in the budget allocation. “For agriculture and horticulture, there is no increase in the budget. There is no increase. The hills are redundant today. There is no income. Around 90 per cent of the State of Manipur is hills, lush green hills. We are an agrarian society, and we have been adapting to change because our forefathers have taught us what it is to survive through agriculture,” he remarked, highlighting the state’s reliance on agrarian livelihoods.
A phenomenal speech by Shri. Alfred K. Arthur, MP Lok Sabha (Outer Manipur): addressing his concern for the common people in #Manipur, and exposing the total failure of Double Engine @BJP4India Govt., both at the centre & the state, in delivering their duties & responsibilities.… pic.twitter.com/eDepaCfCia
— Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip (@DrLamtinthangHk) March 11, 2025
Arthur expressed frustration over the government’s reliance on schemes like NREGA for sustenance while alleging that funds for such schemes were not being released promptly. “Are we depending on NREGA? If it is NREGA, even there also, you do not even release the funds. The Central Government is not releasing the funds, and the State Government is not formalizing the actual plans that will be required for inclusive growth,” he said.
Turning to infrastructure, Arthur delivered a scathing critique of the condition of roads and the government’s approach to development projects. Inviting the Union Ministers to visit his constituency, he stated, “Forget about the Mumbai-Delhi highway where you have spent ₹50,000 crore. I have no problem; it is my nation, and we have to grow. But come to my constituency, which is about 20,000 square kilometers. I will show him the sort of roads that his Ministry is making. You will say, ‘Are these roads provided to you? You are citizens of this nation. Are you actually serious?’”
Arthur further criticized the government’s approach to issuing work orders before completing land acquisition processes. “This time when I had spoken to NHIDCL officials in the Disha Committee meeting, what did they say? They said the work orders are issued before the land is acquired. How can the Government start issuing work orders before completion of the land acquisition process? Are we a society that is working on a contractual basis, or is it for a chain of delivery for the common man? Today, there is no delivery. There is nothing,” he argued.
The MP also challenged the Finance Minister’s anticipated claims about government schemes, preemptively questioning their validity. “I am sure the hon. Finance Minister will come back later and say that ‘जजएम में यह किया गया है, पीएमजीएसवाई में यह किया गया है, पीएमजीकेवाई में यह किया गया है।’ You are going to say about many things that you have done, and I will refute each one. I know I will not get a chance to rebut the hon. Finance Minister, but I am pre-empting her reply. I will say very clearly today that every single thing that she is saying today is only on paper,” he asserted.
Expressing his disappointment over the lack of accountability for the violence that has displaced over 60,000 people in the state, Arthur questioned the government’s commitment to justice. “What has happened to the man who has been running the show for nearly two years? Is he behind bars? The least I expected was for an inquiry to be initiated because the whole world knows he is on tape speaking about how he initiated this entire crime. Is it not shameful that the head of the Executive of a State can execute such a gruesome crime and yet remain unscathed?” he demanded.
Arthur’s anguish was evident as he reflected on the failure to address the needs of the displaced people and the financial damage estimated to exceed ₹20,000 crore. “All of their homes are ravaged, burnt, broken, and damaged. They are all displaced. There is no reflection in the Budget for those displaced,” he said. “The entire Budget is not even worth that. Mr. Chairman, Sir, while my State may be a small State, we are not small people. We are also equal in every way to this nation.”
Appealing to the conscience of the House, Arthur questioned the purpose of his representation if the voices of his people remained unheard. “I would implore upon the conscience of this House again, about my rising to speak again and again, if it is not making sense to this August House. Give me the privilege, opinion, and opportunity to relinquish my seat and not come back here again. Do you know how it feels to come here and speak repeatedly without being heard, without being executed at the ground level?”
In his concluding remarks, Arthur emphasized the sanctity of the Constitution and the need for a genuine and just approach to governance. “This Constitution is sacred to each Member present here in this august House. I need not remind anybody. I have quoted the rule of law. It is a point of order that cannot be bypassed. The Budget has to clearly say about this. This is a notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Today, the State is being run by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The hill-valley section separation is mandatory. There is no separation of that. How would we know what is going to the hills and what is going to the valley? Nobody would know anything,” he argued.
Urging the Finance Minister to reconsider the Budget and ensure fairness in its allocation, Arthur concluded, “I wish, hope, and pray that we, in this House together, can solve this problem.”
Arthur’s impassioned address served as a stark reminder of the unmet needs of Manipur and the government’s responsibility to address the grievances of its people with sincerity and integrity.
