Govt has blue print to resolve conflict: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 31 2024: With ethnic communities not averse to proposals or demand for implementation of the National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) in the state, an opportunity has risen for talks between the two parties, said chief minister N Biren, who expressed firm belief that the centre would soon summon leaders of communities concerned to iron out the differences, if any.

He also disclosed that some major groups might make an announcement for peace and harmony in the next few days in response to the statements by the opposition in connection with the February 28 Discussion of Motion of Thanks presented by former Governor Anusuiya Uikey, on the first day of the sixth session of Manipur Legislative Assembly, which commenced Wednesday.

Reminding that NRC has been a collective demand of the state government and the people, CM Biren referred to an apex body of Kuki tribe issuing a press statement in endorsement of NRC, under the condition that the exercise be carried out under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Additionally, some Kuki organisations had voiced their positive support against poppy plantation in the hills.

Furthermore, since the valley inhabitants have been calling for implementation of NRC, this serves a good opportunity for the two sides to sit down and talk.

As such, he had presented the press releases and put in good words for the same to the Prime Minister, defence minister and home minister, while he (Biren) was in Delhi the past few days.

Thus, he expressed firm belief that the centre will summon teams from both sides for talks, while further expressing belief that some major organisations would be making an announcement in the coming days for peace and harmony in the state.

The CM continued that if the exact origin of the conflict is determined, it would not be difficult to solve the conflict in the state and peace would be automatically restored once the people could comprehend the root cause.

He disclosed that to understand the core issues of the conflict, he privately met the Kuki MLAs and representatives of Kuki CSOs in Guwahati.

Claiming that there is photographic evidence of the meeting as well, he further stated that the Guwahati gathering had Kuki representatives conveying fears and concerns on certain issues.

Informing that the government has a blue print to resolve the conflict, he said that the contents of same, however, are highly confidential.

A five member committee including the Hill Areas Committee chairman are meeting with Kukis in the hills, the CM said, and added that the central agency and Home Ministry in Delhi have been meeting with MLAs from both sides from time to time.

Biren then said that as majority of the illegal immigrants who entered the state were Kukis, minister Letpao Haokip was appointed as the chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee tasked to identify illegal immigrants.

A Meetei or Naga chairman was not appointed so as to avoid any bias.

Under the Cabinet Sub-Committee, there is another committee with the Home commissioner as one of the members.

The team visited around 40 villages camped in Tengnoupal area for verification and identified around 2480 illegal immigrants.

Further investigation found villages of illegal immigrants in Kamjong, Tengnoupal and Churachandpur districts.

When the team tried to visit more villages, they had to return after reports of firing.

While this matter was being discussed and further discussions held to visit Churachandpur district, a rally was carried out in the district against the inclusion of Meetei in the ST list after the High Court of Manipur issued an order regarding the same.

Taking advantage of the rally, houses of Meeteis were torched and the conflict blew up to present day, he recounted.

The government had destroyed around 19,000 hectares of land in the hills utilised to grow poppies and further destroyed around Rs 60 crore worth of drugs.

As such, it is believed that the illegal immigrants were against the government's actions and decided to exploit the situation.

The conflict was originally between the government and drug-related activities, but latter took a communal angle after it turned against the Meetei community, he said.

Biren then appreciated the support of Congress MLAs with regard to implementation of NRC, While NRC has not yet been implemented in the state, biometric recording and relevant identification exercises are being carried out.

In addition, the border fencing work has resumed, with the centre having sanctioned funds for fencing another 20km of the border while work in additional 40km is in progress.

Under the Foreigner's Act, SPs of border districts have been appointed as returning officer and instructed to expedite identification of foreigners and record biometrics to prevent them from becoming citizens of this country through illegal means.

Biren recounted that during a meeting with the PM, he showed the PM satellite mappings including for some constituencies where the population had burgeoned by SO per cent.

Taking into account the unpredictable future of the indigenous people, all the aforementioned steps were taken up for the sake of the future generations, he explained.

Expressing shock over accusations that the PM has made no special reference about the Manipur issue, Biren recounted that the PM reflected on the Manipur issue on August 10 and 15 last year, and most recently, in the parliament on July 23 this year.

He continued that the government also wants the displaced people to facilitate return to their original homes, but it would be foolhardy to allow them to return in areas without security, although some have been able to return to areas already secured.

Thus, until a political solution is brought about, it would be not wise to allow the displaced to return home, he said, while strongly condemning those who are taking undue advantage of the conflict and blatantly extorting, kidnapping and harassing the public.

Stating that the central government first granted a Rs 500 crore package for the state when request for an economic package of Rs 2000 crore was made in view of the conflict; the chief minister said that he requested the centre for significant package with regard to the damages caused by the two floods which occurred in the state and expressed firm belief that the same would be sanctioned soon.

Biren also recalled that he met the Union Railways minister to connect the railway line to Imphal at the earliest.

While there have been issues with regard to distributing compensation as land owners in the hill areas do not possess land deeds to prove ownership, the Railway Ministry had despatched relevant personnel to settle the disputes and connect Imphal via railways as soon as possible.

Thus, he appealed to all members of the House to extend their support in passing the Motion of Thanks delivered by the Governor.

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