Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday, June 17, that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will begin discussions with the Meitei and Kuki communities to address the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur. This initiative aims to bridge the divide and restore harmony in the troubled region.
During a review of the security situation in Manipur, Shah stressed the importance of strategically deploying central forces to maintain peace and order. He assured that the number of central forces in the state would be increased if necessary to ensure stability.
An official statement highlighted Shah's directive for strict legal action against those responsible for the violence, reinforcing the government's commitment to restoring peace in the northeastern state. The review meeting saw the attendance of key officials, including Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Army Chief (Designate) Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, GoC Three Corps HS Sahi, Security Advisor to Manipur Kuldiep Singh, Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh, and Assam Rifles DG Pradeep Chandran Nair.
The discussions aimed at bringing the Meitei and Kuki communities to the negotiating table underscore the government's recognition of the deep-rooted ethnic issues affecting Manipur. Shah's emphasis on a strategic approach and his assurance of increased central forces demonstrate a comprehensive plan to tackle the unrest.
However, the absence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh from the review meeting raised questions. Congress leader Pawan Khera pointedly asked why the Chief Minister was not present, suggesting that this could be seen as a lack of confidence by the central government in its own CM. "Why wasn't the Chief Minister present? Is this a kind of no-confidence motion by the central government against its own CM? Discussing the Manipur issue without the CM's presence raises questions about the reasons behind this exclusion," Khera stated.
The absence of the Chief Minister at such a critical meeting adds a layer of complexity to the situation, indicating potential rifts or strategic differences within the government regarding the handling of the crisis. Nonetheless, the MHA's initiative to start dialogues with the conflicting communities marks a significant step towards resolving the ethnic tensions and restoring harmony in Manipur.
Overall, the government's multi-faceted approach, involving increased security measures and community dialogues, reflects a serious commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict and ensuring long-term peace in the region.
