Talks held with Kuki MLAs to restore peace: Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 05 2024:
Chief minister N Biren has said that the Central government is not remaining silent over the situation in the state as could be comprehended from hosting three rounds of talks with the Kuki MLAs and other MLAs of the state to resolve the crisis.
Replying to a motion for discussion on matter of public interest moved on the last day of the Manipur legislative assembly on Tuesday regarding the present crisis in the state and measures for restoration of peace and normalcy at the earliest possible, Biren said that the Central government has been constantly monitoring the situation but doing everything at its disposal to restore peace at the earliest.
There had been three rounds of talks between Kuki MLAs and non-Kuki MLAs under the supervision of the Central government with first held in Delhi, and second and third in Guwahati, with the last one being an exclusive meeting of MLAs, who are members in the Hill Areas Committee, he said while seeking cooperation from the public.
He further said that the government does not talk or act in favour of Meetei but for the whole state.
The so-called village volunteers are civilians, who, out of compulsion came forward to protect the lives of the public in response to the massive and unprecedented violence.
Now, the government is deploying adequate security personnel of both state and central forces in vulnerable areas.
Efforts are on to make the civilian volunteers retreat from the frontline and in such a way that they would be called upon only when the security personnel could not handle the situation alone.
Battalions of security forces in Imphal area will be relocated to foothill areas, and these measures are helping in restoring normalcy, he added.
Biren maintained that no district and its inhabitants can act like an independent state and flush out people belonging to communities with lesser population of the district.
There are clear land laws in the state and the crisis might have not occurred only if there were no issues of overlapping district boundaries, he said.
Biren also revealed that the Centre has been asked from the side of Joint Monitoring Group of the SoO Agreement to relocate the SoO camps from near National Highways.
He also clarified on the appointment of security advisor by the Centre saying that it was an act to leave no room for allegation of discrimination and partiality by the government.
He had intimated the union home minister about the proposal for an all-party delegation meeting the Prime Minister over the crisis, to which Amit Shah said that he is working under the supervision of the Prime Minister and the delegation can meet him (Amit Shah) if they want.
Biren also highlighted the assurance of Amit Shah for completing the Indo-Myanmar border fencing.
He said that the resolution to press the Centre for conducting NRC exercise was adopted by the House and even though the opposition members walked out due to some issues, there is no problem in saying that Congress also took part in adopting the resolution.