Opposition shedding crocodile tears on Manipur, indulging in drama: FM in RS

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday accused the Opposition of shedding crocodile tears on Manipur and indulging in 'drama' over the grievances of people of the state.

Her attack came during her reply to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, extending GST benefits to the state through a bill.

Sitharaman accused the Opposition of not participating in the discussion on the bill that sought to replace an Ordinance in this regard.

The Opposition had earlier staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha after the Chair rejected their demand for a discussion on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

Responding to the debate on the bill, Sitharaman said before she goes into the details she wanted to say something about the Opposition.

''So throughout, we saw them shedding crocodile tears about Manipur for everything....Everytime on Manipur, they will raise issues and shed crocodile tears,'' she claimed.

''Did the prime minister visit? Did the home minister visit? Did the law and order come to normalcy? Every time about Manipur they will raise issues. They will voice their grievance. Total crocodile tears,'' she said.

The Finance Minister said when the budget for Manipur came up earlier, the Opposition did not participate in the debate on the bill even at that time.

''I've seen it even earlier once when we brought in a bill for Manipur's budget, because again it was under the President's rule. We had to present the budget for Manipur. Even at that time they did not participate in the debate. Even at that time they did not think of Manipur people's welfare, that money should go to them through the budget being passed. They didn't think about it.

''Even today when the GST benefits have to go to the state government, because they will otherwise not earn the revenue out of it. When we are trying to have an Ordinance be converted to a regular bill and get passed here to become an Act they are not here to participate,'' she alleged.

''So all the grievances that they voiced about Manipur accusing the prime minister, accusing the home minister they are all just drama. I'm ashamed to say this. I'm sorry to say this,'' Sitharaman claimed.

She said the Opposition has to adopt a responsible role on a state on which they talk about so much and should participate in the discussion on a bill where benefits of GST have to be passed on to the state.

The finance minister said the Opposition has to play a responsible role and discuss with responsibility on a state, for its benefit and betterment.

''Whenever a budget is being passed or a law is being considered, they have to take part in it. But this Opposition is shedding crocodile tears. Whenever critical bills related to Manipur come (in the House), they run away.

''This is shameful. It is very embarrassing. In fact today they didn't participate in discussion over Manipur's bill for implementing GST in the state,'' she alleged.

The House later returned the bill to the Lok Sabha with voice vote.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)