Biren grateful to Shah; FOCS hails truce
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 30 2023: Chief minister N Biren Singh has said that he is 'grateful' to union home minister Amit Shah for the peace deal signed between the government and a major armed outfit on Wednesday.

A day after the truce was signed, N Biren on Thursday thanked union home minister Amit Shah for facilitating the peace deal.

Stating that he is grateful to Amit Shah for the latter's commitment in working collaboratively for the betterment of Manipur and playing an instrumental role in bringing the said outfit to the mainstream through peace talks, CM Biren added: "His (Shah) leadership and efforts have played a pivotal role in fostering reconciliation and paving the way for a more peaceful and united future in the Northeast" .

N Biren, who met Amit Shah in New Delhi, said a new era of peace and progress has dawned in Manipur as the Centre signed the peace agreement with the outfit, which is Manipur's oldest militant organisation dominated by the majority Meitei community.

"The signing of the peace agreement in New Delhi was made possible under the able leadership of Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah ji," the chief minister said in a post on X on Wednesday.

"With his wisdom and continuous guidance, a new era of peace and progress dawns in Manipur.

A chapter of growth and development now opens as many extend their faith and trust toward the BJP Government," he added.

A section of the people celebrated the signing of the peace pact by bursting firecrackers at several places in Imphal East and West districts.

Amit Shah called the signing of the peace agreement as a "historic milestone".

According to news agencies, N Biren also discussed issues facing the state with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a day after a tripartite agreement was signed the outfit.

Quoting officials in Imphal, the agencies reported that the chief minister discussed various "vital issues" concerning Manipur, which has been devastated by ethnic violence for over seven months now, with the Union home minister.

"The state government has submitted various projects and proposals relating to displaced and violence-affected people, including farmers, and sought financial assistance from the Centre to implement them.

The Chief Minister discussed these proposals with the Home Minister.

They also discussed illegal infiltration from Myanmar," an official said.

After meeting Shah, Biren posted on X: "It was an honour to meet Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi today.

I am extremely grateful to him for his commitment in working collaboratively for the betterment of Manipur.

" After several months, the Chief Minister went to Delhi and held a meeting with the Home Minister, who had visited the violence-hit state for four days from May 29 to June 1.The peace agreement was signed 16 days after the Home Ministry on November 13 had extended the ban on 11 Meitei armed groups and their associate organisations.

Meanwhile, Federation of Civil Societies Organisation (FOCS) has welcomed the peace agreement signed by the governments of India and Manipur with an armed group of Manipur.

Addressing a press meet at its office here on Thursday, FOCS president Th Manihar said that the state has been witnessing armed conflict for the last six decades with different armed groups pursuing the common goal for regaining sovereignty.

In this long-drawn conflict, the recent signing of the peace agreement with one of the armed groups by the government is indeed a step towards peaceful resolution of the conflict, he said, while expressing hope that it would help in bringing the solution to the problem.

Manihar also called for support from the public and CSOs as well in ensuring the peace agreement reaches its desired goal.

He further appealed to the other armed groups to take similar initiatives for resolving the conflict, stating that a united stand in this regard could prove beneficial in pursuing the common goal.

Comment