'IDPs to be resettled at orginal place of residence after political solution'
I no longer oversee Unified Command : Chief Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2024: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has categorically stated that a plan is afoot to resettle the internally displaced people (IDPs) at their original places after working out a political solution to the protracted crisis in Manipur.

Responding to an observation made by four Congress MLAs on the agenda moved by Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan and seconded by Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai to discuss the Motion of Thanks to the Governor address given on February 28 last, the Chief Minister said that the Governor address cannot elaborate on every affair of the State as there is time limitation.

'IDPs to be resettled at orginal place of residence after political solution'

Pertaining to the appointment of Chief Secretary, Security Advisor and Director General of Police by the State Government which was also mentioned in the Governor's address, N Biren said that the appointments were made as per the instruction of the Centre given the situation in the State.

Saying that the Chief Minister should be the Chairman of the Unified Command, N Biren said that he, however, was stripped of the power to oversee the functioning of the Unified Command as he belongs to the Meetei community and since the clash is between the Meiteis and the Kukis.

There is no harm in me not being the Chairman of the Unified Command, he said.

Expressing belief that the Central leaders will invite leaders of both the warring communities to New Delhi to resolve the crisis in Manipur, N Biren added that some big organisations may also come with a peace appeal very soon.

He said that the unrest in Manipur has been dragging on as people don't understand the genuine issues of the State.

Saying that he met some Kuki MLAs and their civil society organisation leaders at Guwahati recently, N Biren added that there was an agreement to not take any photo during the meeting.

The Chief Minister continued that the Kuki representatives who he met requested him not to inform anyone about the meeting.

Saying that he, however, took one photo to keep it as a record, N Biren added that a section of people became aware of the meeting and they threatened the Kuki representatives who attended the meeting.

The Chief Minister, on the other hand, said that the statement given by Congress leader O Ibobi on illegal immigrants entering Manipur and Assam Rifles guarding villages is an attempt to mislead the House.

N Biren further said that there are reports and satellite imagery of illegal immigrants settling in Manipur.

About the visit of Rahul Gandhi to Manipur, the Chief Minister said that he is thankful to the LOP for visiting the State amid the unrest.

Saying that Rahul Gandhi, however, left Manipur after meeting some displaced people in relief camps and arousing the emotion of the people, N Biren maintained that Rahul Gandhi didn't hold any official meeting with CSOs and social leaders or Government officials to discuss the situation in Manipur while he was in the State.

The conflict in Manipur wasn't instigated by the Government, he said and added that the violence in the State was triggered by the attack on Meeteis by a section of people who deliberately exploited the Tribal Solidarity March taken out on May 3 last year.

He continued that the State Government is still carrying out the exercise to detect and deport illegal immigrants under The Foreigners Act.

N Biren went on to state that he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi in the previous term of the BJP Government in Manipur and discussed the issues of illegal immigrants.

Saying that the Government has been taking up different initiatives to address the grievances of IDPs and doesn't want any crisis here in Manipur, he appealed to the people to understand the grave threat being posed by illegal immigrants and establishment of unauthorised villages to the future of the State.

The claim that the Prime Minister has been staying silent on the Manipur crisis is wrong, he said and contended that the Prime Minister had spoken about Manipur three times.

Further stating that the State Government has been working at its level best to restore normalcy in Manipur, N Biren added that the situation, however, is not conducive for the IDPs to return to their native places.

There are people who want to keep the State in a restive atmosphere, the Chief Minister said.

Continuing that a five member team led by the Chairman of Hill Areas Committee had also met Kuki MLAs in New Delhi and Nagaland, N Biren added that the dates of the meetings are in record.

The responsibility of the Government is to restore peace, the Chief Minister added.

Recounting that a Cabinet sub committee led by Tribal Affair and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip detected 2480 illegal immigrants settled in 44 villages in Kamjong, Churachandpur, Chandel and Tengnoupal before the unrest erupted in Manipur, N Biren maintained that unauthorised villages were also found set up by the Cabinet sub committee.

Violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023 while the Government was planning what could be done about the stiff opposition by a section of people to the Government's initiative to identify illegal immigrants, he said.

Saying that the Government has so far destroyed 19,000 hectare of poppy plantations across the State and seized drugs worth about Rs 60 crore and the same is a record, N Biren said that drug dealers from across the border may have a hand in instigating the violence in Manipur as the War on Drugs campaign was a serious blow to their business.

The State Government has been urging the Central leadership to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the context of Manipur, the leader of the House said and maintained that the Government collecting biometrics of foreigners is to carry out the NRC exercise smoothly.

N Biren also said that it was the BJP Government which implemented the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur to regulate the entry of non locals.

The Government has also started erecting fences along the border areas again after a brief lull, the Chief Minister added.

About extortion becoming a serious issue amid the unrest, N Biren said that he condemns some sections of people imposing monetary demands in the name of safeguarding Manipur.

Saying that the State Government sought Rs 2000 crore financial package from the Centre given the series of natural calamities apart from the unrest, the Chief Minister added that the Central Government sanctioned Rs 500 crore for the cause.

N Biren went on to state he urged the Central leadership to sanction additional economic packages for the State during his recent visit to New Delhi.

He further stated that the State Government has also been urging the Centre to take up the Imphal-Jiribam railway project on a war footing.

Saying that security forces never arrested any village volunteers who guard villages normally, the Chief Minister added those who were arrested were involved in intimidating people on the pretext of safeguarding them.

Later, Speaker Th Satyabrata announced the adoption of the Governor address.