'Violence due to War on Drugs, check on illegal infiltration'
Resolve is to secure future of Manipur : CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2024: Contending that his resolve is only to secure the future of Manipur and being in power or not is of least concern, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has categorically stated that he wouldn't hesitate to resign if anyone can furnish any evidence of him indulging in unconstitutional activities.

Attending the 190th death anniversary of Maharaj Gambhir Singh as chief guest at the Samadhi of the Maharaja at Canchipur today, the Chief Minister asked what would be the fate of Manipur if he put all his focus and resources only in job recruitment, transfer and posting of officials and construct or repair some roads to stay in power.

'Violence due to War on Drugs, check on illegal infiltration'

Saying that he has the support of the 54 MLAs and can easily stay in power for another two terms without taking any risk, the Chief Minister asked the people to understand whose loss it would be had the Government not taken up War on Drugs and drives against poppy plantations and encroachment.

What will Manipur become in the next five or 10 years if the campaigns against poppy plantations, encroachment on reserved and protected forest areas and drug abuse and smuggling were not taken up zealously, he further asked and added that whatever the Government had done were in the larger interest of Manipur and her people.

He claimed that the violence in Manipur might not have taken place had the State Government ignored the issue of drugs trade, widespread poppy plantations and influx of illegal immigrants.

For what faults of the Government or the Meeteis were that the innocent Meeteis were attacked, their houses torched and gun attacks were launched against them, the Chief Minister asked and reiterated that he will resign if anyone can produce evidence of him indulging in unconstitutional activities.

Saying that it is his duty to uphold Indian Constitution, N Biren maintained that he wouldn't remain a mere spectator whenever there is a threat to National and State security.

Maintaining that the effect of drug misuse in Manipur is immense, he added that the State has nearly 1.5 lakh addicts and there is change in rainfall pattern apart from water bodies drying up.

N Biren said that a collective effort is needed to build a unified Manipur .

Continuing that the violence in Manipur has taken a heavy toll on Old Kukis, Meiteis, Meitei Pangals and Nagas, the Chief Minister sought cooperation from all the Manipuris in tackling the issues of poppy plantations, large scale drug trade and in identifying illegal immigrants.

The Government won't allow implementation of any policies or designs which will have detrimental effects on the Manipuri people in the long run, N Biren said and added that he also will not accept any demand which seeks to break the State apart.

On the hostility at Moreh, he said that Assam Rifles, BSF and State force have started cracking down against the terrorists present at the border town.

Expressing desire for the intellectuals to see if the State can reclaim Kabaw Valley by going to the International Court of Justice, the Chief Minister said that the State Government will bear the expense if such a matter can be taken up.

The Union Home Ministry had already announced that the violence in Manipur was instigated by illegal immigrants based on the report of NIA, N Biren recalled, and asked the people to have faith in the Government as the problem cannot be solved immediately.

Claiming that a former Chief Secretary gave recognition to five villages at Moreh during his tenure and it contributed to the escalation of the present crisis at the border town, N Biren maintained that there were many selfish IAS and MCS officers in the past who had communal interest.

He further claimed that another former Additional Chief Secretary recognised 60 houses at Langol Tarung under Langol Reserved Forest areas.

Alleging that he has adequate records of several IAS and MCS officers scheming to disintegrate the State, N Biren maintained that officials mostly from the Revenue and Forest Departments also created trouble by giving recognition to villages at forest areas.

Recognition of villages cannot be given without the consent of the Government, he said and claimed that the previous Government, unfortunately, didn't do anything when villages were set up illegally fearing resentment of a section of people.

"To be in power or not is of least concern to me but Manipur has to be protected at all costs," he reiterated.

"Even Gods make mistakes and I'm not afraid to admit if I had done any wrong," the Chief Minister said and claimed that he personally took his son to jail for the wrong his son had done and he still has the same spirit till today.

On the death anniversary, N Biren Singh said that the function was organized to "let the people know and remember the sacrifices made by our forefathers" .

He continued that statues of Meidingu Narasingh and Sana Herachandra were erected acknowledging their contribution in safeguarding the land.

N Biren Singh asked why some MLAs and Ministers didn't attend the important function despite being in Manipur.

Highlighting some historical events, the Chief Minister lamented the lack of proper and complete documentation of influential figures like Maharaj Gambhir Singh.

He also explained the importance of Ningthi Turel near Moreh where Maharaj Gambhir Singh, Narasingh and Heerachandra washed their blood stained swords after driving away the Burmese.

Assam, Manipur and Tripura were the only places in North East India that had survived as independent Nations for thousands of years in South East Asia, the Chief Minister said explaining the need to organize such observations in grand manners.

The observance was also attended by Ministers Th Biswajit Singh, Awangbou Newmai, Dr S Ranjan Singh, L Susindro Meitei, Rajya Sabha MP Maharaj Sanajaoba, MLAs, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi and Manipur University Vice Chancellor Prof N Lokendro Singh among others.

The Chief Minister and other dignitaries offered floral tributes to the statues and portraits of Maharaj Gambhir Singh, Meidingu Narasingh and Sana Herachandra.

Other highlights of the function included a guard of honour, gun salute, sounding of the last post by a contingent of Manipur Rifles, offering of tarpon and performance of Dhop Pala by Guru Gulapi Nata Sankirtana Academy.