Leader of the House, N Biren Singh, has called on all House members, including Opposition MLAs, to cooperate in discussing the road map for restoring peace in Manipur, with a focus on implementing the NRC.
CM Biren, who is also the Home Minister in-charge, made the statement on Thursday in response to the policy cut motions raised by opposition MLAs during the discussion and voting on Police department demands.
Opposition MLA K Ranjit said, since the onset of violence in Manipur CM N Biren Singh has provided different narratives regarding the root cause.
He noted that even Union Home Minister Amit Shah cited two different causes for the Manipur crisis. Initially, Shah attributed the violence to external aggression, but later suggested that initiating talks between the Meitei and Kuki communities could resolve the issue.
Ranjit urged the concerned authorities to identify the actual root cause of the conflict to facilitate the restoration of peace. He also called for CM Biren to clarify the misinformation regarding the implementation of the NRC in Manipur.
In response, Home Minister in-charge N Biren Singh clarified that the state government has begun identifying illegal immigrants through biometrics, a process that falls under the Foreigner’s Act and is similar to the NRC. He emphasized that the NRC has not yet been implemented in Manipur.
CM Biren further stated that Article 355 has not been imposed in Manipur. However, following instructions from the central government and as a Meitei himself, the central government appointed Kuldiep Singh as the security advisor to the Manipur government.
Addressing issues with a particular central security force, the state government has taken necessary measures and is working to resolve the matter, he added.
Opposition MLA Th Lokeshwar expressing his opinion on the same demand urged CM Biren to take stringent action and appealed to the Manipur police to uphold the dignity of their uniform by protecting the people from unwanted elements. He called on the Home Minister to empower state forces to perform their duties without obstruction.
Lokeshwar asserted that effective coordination between state and central forces is essential to halt clashes between communities and restore peace.
He also urged the House to unanimously seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to highlight Manipur’s issues and push for peace restoration. Additionally, he appealed for an increase in the monthly salary for VDF personnel, acknowledging their significant contributions made during the crisis.
In his response, CM Biren informed the House that the initial outbreak of violence was due to a lack of intelligence. However, with state and central forces’ initiatives, the violence has been significantly controlled. As part of these efforts, around 130 displaced families in the Jiribam district have returned to their homes, although some groups continue to undermine peace efforts.
Opposition leader Okram Ibobi also stressed the need for the government to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the Manipur crisis promptly. He emphasized the urgency for both communities to cease hostilities.
The Opposition MLAs expressed their support for any steps taken by the ruling MLAs to restore peace in Manipur.
However, Ibobi warned that the opposition MLAs might take stringent measures if the ruling MLAs, including CM N Biren Singh, fail to secure an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
‘412 FIRs filed, 86 people arrested for poppy cultivation’
Chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday informed the assembly that 412 FIRs were lodged and 87 people arrested in the last seven years in connection with illegal poppy cultivation in the state.
Responding to a query by Congress MLA Th Lokeshwor, the CM said altogether 16,788 acres of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed between 2017 and 2024.
“From 2017 to 2024, 412 FIRs were registered for illegal poppy cultivation. Eighty-seven people, including 16 village chiefs, were also arrested from January 2017 to July 2024” CM Biren said.
Biren said that as a alternative means of poppy cultivation there are schemes under horticulture department to provide.
To a supplementary query regarding capital punishment for illegal poppy cultivation, CM Biren replied that cultivation and business of poppy is similar and so, there is punishment under NDPS Act.
