Violence will end if people unite: Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 09 2024: "We have no future without unity and the ongoing violence will end on the day people are united and stand together as one," stated chief minister chief minister N Biren Singh.

Speaking at the celebration of five years of implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILP) in Manipur at City Convention Centre on Monday, the chief minister asserted that the violence erupted after government started destruction of widespread poppy plantations and launch of 'War on Drugs' campaign to save the future generation from drugs.

Another factor which led to the violence was detection of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, who have become threat to indigenous population.

Detection of illegal immigrants was done with provisions under Foreigners Act of the country and there was no ill-treatment of immigrants during detection process done to save indigenous communities of Manipur, Biren said adding that detection of illegal immigrants was not done in personal interest but to save the society and future generation.

"No one wants war and it is natural for the humans to resolve conflict.

Accordingly, government made continuous efforts towards restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.

At one point of time amidst the violence, I woke up in the middle of the night and went to Silchar to meet leaders of different communities and organisations.

Efforts to bring back normalcy at the time was progressing but some vested interest people sabotaged the peace efforts," Biren claimed, adding that such vested interests people would not be accepted even by the Almighty.

While asserting that Manipur is a complex society and the present issue besieging the state is a very serious one which could not be resolved by sipping coffee or tea together, CM Biren appealed to 'patriotic' brothers and sisters to look cautiously on all directions - north, south, east and west.

He reminded the people that emotions cannot save the land and some time will take to resolve the issue.

He also stressed the need for proper planning, strategies and preparations for resolving the issue and most importantly the unity of the people.

As chief guest at the event, CM Biren said that Manipur is the first state in the country to extend ILP post-independence.

ILP was implemented in the three states namely Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh which have nearly 90 percent of their population belonging to tribal communities.

However, ILP was extended to Manipur having only 40 percent of population belonging to tribal communities by the NDA government led by PM Narendra Modi after critically assessing the uniqueness and peculiarity of state's civilization, culture and tradition on December 9, 2019, Biren said and expressed his gratitude to central leaders for implementing ILP in the state.

Acknowledging the struggle of the people of both hills and valley, CSOs, student organisations for implementation of ILP, the chief minister said extension of ILP was the biggest positive gift of the Centre under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi to protect and save indigenous population of the state.

Regarding reports about abuse and discrimination against Myanmar refugees in the state, N Biren clarified that there are no reports or records on hostility and discrimination against the illegal immigrants in detention centres/temporary shelters.

State government has been providing temporary shelter, food, medicines, etc., to the refugees/illegal immigrants and biometrics of all illegal immigrants has also been captured, he added.

The chief minister also mentioned that ILP is applicable only to Indian citizens and not to foreigners.

He also led people in paying floral tribute to Lamjing Meira Sapam Robinhood as part of the programme and felicitated representatives of CSOs, student organisations and others who took proactive role in demanding ILP system in the state.

In his key-note address at the event, joint secretary (home) M Veto Singh said the earlier permit system for entiy and exit from Manipur was scrapped in 1950 but Union home minister Amit Shah announced in the Lok Sabha on this day in 2019 to implement the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873 commonly known as ILP system in Manipur.

Accordingly, implementation of ILP system in Manipur begun on January 1,2020 and different ILP cards have been issued to 9,73,277 people and generated Rs 13 crore as revenue till date.

Regarding detection of illegal immigrants, M Veto informed that the state government had detected 11,847 illegal immigrants from Myanmar in the past five years or so and deported 3779 of them while 7,723 of them are currently sheltered in temporary camps.

The event coinciding with an interactive session with beneficiaries of 'CMESS-Special Package to Startups/Entrepreneurs for employment of IDPs under Manipur Startup Scheme 2' jointly organised by home and planning departments at the City Convention Centre was attended by cabinet ministers, MLAs, chief secretary, administrative officers and staff home and planning departments.

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