European Parliament calls on India to act promptly to end Manipur violence

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is The European Parliament (EP)?
• News Summary: European Parliament calls on India to act promptly to end Manipur violence
• Key highlights of the resolution passed by the European Parliament

 

Why in news?

• The European Parliament has adopted a motion on the Manipur violence.
• The motion called on the government to act promptly to halt the violence in Manipur and protect religious minorities.

 

What is The European Parliament (EP)?

• About
  • The European Parliament is the directly elected legislative body of the European Union (EU). 
  • It is one of the EU's main institutions and represents the citizens of the EU member states. 
  • The Parliament, along with the Council of the European Union, is responsible for making laws, adopting budgets, and overseeing the EU's policies and programs.
  • The Parliament is headquartered in Strasbourg, France, but its work is conducted in three locations: Strasbourg, Brussels (Belgium), and Luxembourg.
• Composition
  • The European Parliament consists of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are elected by EU citizens every five years.
  • The number of MEPs for each country is roughly proportionate to its population, but this is by degressive proportionality: 
    • no country can have fewer than 6 or more than 96 MEPs and 
    • the total number cannot exceed 705 (704 plus the President).
• Functions
  • Legislative
    • Passing EU laws, together with the Council of the EU, based on European Commission proposals
    • Deciding on international agreements
    • Deciding on enlargements
    • Reviewing the Commission's work programme and asking it to propose legislation
  • Supervisory
    • Democratic scrutiny of all EU institutions
    • Electing the Commission President and approving the Commission as a body. Possibility of voting a motion of censure, obliging the Commission to resign
    • Granting discharge, i.e., approving the way EU budgets have been spent
    • Examining citizens' petitions and setting up inquiries
    • Discussing monetary policy with the European Central Bank
    • Questioning Commission and Council
    • Election observations
  • Budgetary
    • Establishing the EU budget, together with the Council
    • Approving the EU's long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework
  • How does the Parliament work?
    • Parliament's work comprises two main stages:
      • Committees - to prepare legislation
      • Plenary sessions – to pass legislation.

 

News Summary: European Parliament calls on India to act promptly to end Manipur violence

• The European Parliament adopted a motion urging the Indian government to promptly halt the ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur, and protect its religious minorities.
• The legislative body of the European Union also denounced in the strongest terms nationalistic rhetoric deployed by leading members of a national party currently in the government.
• The Indian government responded by saying that the issue is an entirely internal matter.

 

Key highlights of the resolution passed by the European Parliament

• Protect all religious minorities
  • The final EP resolution asks the government to protect all religious minorities, such as Manipur’s Christian community, and to pre-empt any further escalation.
• Unhindered access to the area
  • It also calls on authorities to grant unhindered access to the area by journalists and international observers and to end internet shutdowns.
• Repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act
  • The EP resolution also asked the government to repeal the unlawful Armed Forces Special Powers Act in line with the recommendations of the UN Universal Periodic Review.
• Make human rights prominent in dialogue
  • It called on the E.U. to make human rights prominent in its dialogue and relationship with India.

 

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Q1) What is Armed Forces Special Powers Act?

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is an Act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers and immunity to the armed forces deployed in certain areas declared as "disturbed" due to significant internal security challenges. The AFSPA was first enacted in 1958 to tackle insurgency and maintain law and order in areas facing armed rebellion or threats to national security.

 

Q2) What is meant by human rights? 

Human rights refer to the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are inherently entitled, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other status. These rights are considered universal, inalienable, and fundamental to human dignity and worth. Human rights are often recognized and protected by international legal frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and various international treaties and conventions.

 

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Source: European Parliament calls on India to act promptly to end Manipur violence, protect minorities | European Union | Indian Express