CM draws AR DG's attention to vacate AR from MU campus
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, October 19 2022: While appealing to Assam Rifles to initiate the process for removing its camp from Manipur University campus, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has maintained that the commitment of the BJP led Government since its formation in 2017 was to end bandh and blockade culture and improve land and order situation in the State.

The Chief Minister also said that his first priority was to bridge the gap between hill and valley and among various communities.

N Biren Singh was speaking as chief guest at a seminar organised by Assam Rifles at the City Convention Centre, Palace Compound under the theme "Future Ready Manipur - Looking Beyond Ethnicity & Insurgency" .

The Chief Minister continued that the State was able to hold Assembly elections in a free and fair manner and remove AFSPA from areas under the jurisdiction of nine police stations owing to the improved law and order situation.

CM draws AR DG's attention to vacate AR from MU campus

Saying that Go to Hills mission was introduced to understand the grievances of the people residing in hill areas, he added all problems have to be solved through interaction and after exchanging thoughts with civil society organisations, Church leaders and village chiefs among others.

Continuing that Go to Hills and Go to Village missions were launched to take Government officials to villages and remote hill areas so as to provide the benefits of different welfare schemes at their doorsteps, the Chief Minister thanked Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and other paramilitary forces for their contribution and maintaining healthy relations with the public.

N Biren claimed that the law and order situation of the State has improved considerably, urging the security personnel to ensure the safety of the people.

Further, he mentioned that North East India is blessed with abundant natural resources, rich cultural heritage and young dynamic population.

Manipur, with its strategic location, has a huge potential in the field of trade, tourism, IT enabled services, hospitality, entrepreneurship, sports, culture, horticulture and handicraft, he said and added that a collective vision and a coordinated response from all stakeholders is needed to take the region including Manipur to greater heights.

The Government has successfully rolled out numerous outreach programmes to bring uniform development and strengthen emotional integration, the Chief Minister said and claimed that insurgency and other problems including polarisation on ethnic lines hindered the developmental pace of the State in the past.

"Resolving identity based issues requires a comprehensive approach based on mutual respect," he said.

The Chief Minister further stated that Manipur being a border State, faces problem of smuggling drugs and illegal immigration.

He added that the State Government has been making all efforts to tackle the problem of drug menace in the State.

Simultaneously, programmes to provide alternative livelihood for poppy planters are also being taken up, he added. N Biren continued that the Government has taken up several programmes to improve connectivity in the border areas.

The Chief Minister also expressed satisfaction on learning that the Assam Rifles has signed an MoU with Manipur University for organising such seminars for a prosperous and peaceful Manipur.

He requested Lt Gen PC Nair, Director General Assam Rifles to initiate the process of vacating the Assam Rifles camp from the Manipur University campus.

The seminar was attended by Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Minister L Susindro Meitei, Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh, MLA of Lamlai AC Kh Ibomcha Singh, Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen PC Nair, VCs of Universities, senior officials of Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces and students among others.

The seminar had two plenary sessions - 'The trouble neighbour-turbulent Myan-mar : implications & impact' and 'Past vs Future- shedding the historical baggage in Manipur' .