Government in talks with Meiteis and Kukis: Amit Shah
- In Reports
- 09:34 PM, Sep 17, 2024
- Myind Staff
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that the government is engaging in discussions with both the Meitei community and Kuki tribe in Manipur to secure enduring peace. Additionally, efforts have commenced to fence the border with Myanmar to prevent infiltration.
Speaking at a press conference detailing the achievements of the Modi 3.0 administration over the past 100 days, Shah noted that, apart from three days of violence last week, the situation in Manipur has generally remained stable. He emphasised that the government is committed to restoring peace in the region.
Shah, accompanied by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that, aside from the three days of violence, there have been no significant incidents reported in the past three months.
“There was peace in the last three days and I am hopeful that we will be able to control the situation. We are talking to both communities. It was ethnic violence and unless there is dialogue between the two communities, no solution could be found.
“We are talking to the Kuki and Meitei groups. We have prepared a roadmap and will take all possible steps (to ensure peace),” he said.
He announced that the government has successfully deployed Central Reserve Police Force personnel to strategic locations throughout Manipur. He also highlighted that, within the first 100 days of the Modi 3.0 administration, efforts have commenced to fence the India-Myanmar border, addressing a key underlying issue of the conflict.
“Fencing work in 30 km has been completed. Besides the government of India has approved the budget for fencing along the over 1,500 km border,” he said.
The Home Minister stated that the government has abolished the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), which previously permitted residents near the border to travel up to 16 kilometres into each other’s territory without documentation.
“To check the infiltration, we have ended the special arrangement (FMR) with Myanmar under which free movement of the people of both countries was allowed. Now people can cross into each other’s territory only with a visa. We brought a law in this regard,” he said.
Shah announced that the government has also addressed previous security lapses along the international border. The 1,643 km India-Myanmar border, which extends through Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, was governed by the Free Movement Regime (FMR) implemented in 2018 as part of India’s Act East policy. Additionally, the Home Minister revealed that the government plans to establish 16 new Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars in Manipur to provide essential commodities at reasonable prices, supplementing the 21 such facilities already in place.
“A road was blocked there. That blockade has been removed. But due to the prevailing situation, transporters were reluctant to travel through the road. That’s why the stores have been opened where about 100 items, including foodgrains, will be available.
“The prices are reasonable… The poor will get the benefit. The stores are open for everyone,” he said.
When questioned about the potential visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Manipur, Shah indicated that the visit would be announced publicly when it occurs. Ethnic violence in Manipur has persisted since May 3 of the previous year, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts that was organised to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Since the outbreak of violence, more than 220 individuals, including members of both the Kuki and Meitei communities as well as security personnel, have lost their lives. Addressing the broader situation in the Northeastern region, Shah noted that the government has successfully concluded 11 peace agreements with various regional organisations, resulting in over 10,900 youths laying down their arms and integrating into the mainstream.
Image source: PTI
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