IANS | 24 Jul, 2023
Amid criticism from the Opposition parties over the current crisis in
the state, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Monday that
his government is taking measures to restore peace in the northeastern
state at the earliest.
"We are working on different initiatives,
both officially and unofficially, to restore peace in Manipur.
Confidence building measures are ongoing with the help of religious
leaders, traders' community and civil societies,” Singh told IANS in
response to a query on the initiatives taken by his government to
restore peace in the strife-torn state.
Ethnic clashes erupted in
Manipur on May 3, and since then scores of people have lost their lives
while thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps.
Singh,
who has been blamed by the Congress and other Opposition parties for
the prevailing situation in Manipur, said, “We are indulging in a
dialogue process. We are hopeful of restoring peace at the earliest.”
“Illegal
migrants trickling into the state is the real reason behind this
situation.It all started when the Manipur government officially started
taking biometrics of the illegal immigrants in Manipur," the Chief
Minister told IANS.
He said, "This was done on the directions of
the Ministry of Home Affairs and was supposed to be completed by
September. This is what triggered the crisis. Traditionally, all the
Kukis and Meiteis and everyone else live peacefully in the state.”
"The
Government of India is aware of the ground realities in Manipur. On May
29, the MHA wrote to the Manipur government, instructing to continue
capturing biometrics of the illegal immigrants. Meaning, this issue is
not made up by the Manipur government nor there is any agenda of hatred
towards the Kuki community.This move was solely directed towards
controlling the influx," Singh said.
It is also natural to see the influx as there is a war going on in Myanmar, he asserted.
Asked
about the ghastly incident of two women being stripped and paraded on
May 4 in Thoubal district, the video of which had gone viral on social
media, the Chief Minister said, “It felt very bad seeing the video. We
took action within 24 hours after the video surfaced.”
Manipur Police have arrested six persons so far in connection with the horrific incident.
Meanwhile,
the BJP on Monday slammed the Opposition parties after both Houses of
the Parliament were adjourned for the day over the Manipur issue,
accusing them of running away from discussion in the matter.
