Amit Shah assured to uphold state's integrity: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, May 15 2023: While informing that the centre has thoroughly studied the cause, the instiga-tor and the subsequent events of the communal violence that rocked the state, chief minister N Biren conveyed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assurances to take up requisite action on the matter.

The CM also conveyed the union home minister's fur-ther assurances that there will be no such situation which will affect or alter the integ-rity of the state while brief-ing the media at the Durbar hall of his Secretariat here on Monday morning.

Biren informed that he and his cabinet ministers and Rajya Sabha MP and titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba met Amit Shah on Sunday evening in Delhi and apprised the latter on the pre-vailing situation in the state.

Amit Shah assured to uphold state's integrity: CM

The union home minister had been closely monitoring the situation in the state and also had examined several reports related to the violence CM Biren further conveyed Amit Shah's heartfelt condo-lences to the people of Mani-pur for the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

He (union home minister) also assured that the centre would firmly deal with the prevailing situation and restoring peace and normalcy is his utmost priority, while giving further assurances that the unity and integrity of the state would not be affected at any cost.

With regard to other issues discussed in the meeting, Siren disclosed that a Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), consisting of state and central forces, had been taking up steps to make militants un-der Suspension of Operation (So0) return to their desig-nated camps.

They are also checking on whether groups possessing guns, other than the militant groups under SoO, are involved in the violence.

The CM informed that the Home Minister had also asked to submit details on what can be done for those people af-fected by the recent violence and also assured to arrange for resettlement of the affected people soon.

He further informed that the MLAs submitted a joint letter to the union home minister urg-ing for strict action against the So0 militants who had violated ground rules of the agreement.

The centre has already inves-tigated who had instigated the communal violence, the place of origin of the conflict and subsequent events, the CM stated and expressed firm belief that the centre will take appropriate action.

Clarifying that Article 355 has not been imposed in the state, he said that the centre had sent a security advisor in view of the serious nature of the situation in Manipur.

While expressing deep condo-lences over the lives lost and properties destroyed due to the violence, Biren appealed to all communities not to carry out activities which would affect the sentiments of other communities.

He also appealed to the public not to organise rally, sit-in-protest or use of slogans, adding that such activities could be detri-mental to measures initiated to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

The state government is taking up all possible steps to restore normalcy in the state.

Paramilitary forces had been deployed at foothills and essential items needed for people staying at shelter camps looked into.

Efforts are also being made to talk with those blocking the na-tional highways and make them understand gravity of the situation instead of using force to solve the matter, he added.

The CM continued to appeal to the public not to believe in rumours and unverified information, adding that the prevailing situation is very critical and if not controlled, can affect the peaceful co-ex-istence of our future genera-tion.

The media also play an important role in curbing the violence and should re-frain from publishing articles which could affect the peace.

Biren then sought support of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to the state govern-ment's effort to restore peace and normalcy, while further appealing to the people of Manipur to extend support and cooperation in bringing normalcy in the state, setting all aside what had happened in the past.

Power minister Thongam Biswajit, MAHUD minister Yumnam Khemchand, Works minister Govindas Konthou-jam, IPR minister Dr Sapam Ranjan and, State Planning Board deputy chairman So-rokhaibam Rajen were also present during the press briefing.

It may be mentioned here that union home minister Amit Shah had summoned CM Biren and some of his minis-terial colleagues to Delhi on Sunday.

They then returned to Imphal around 1.30 am Monday in a chartered flight.

Notably, amid tension be-tween the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state, 10 MLAs (7 from BJP and 3 from Kuki Peoples Alliance) issued a statement on May 12, asking for a separate administration.