Responding to the increasing demands from different corners of the state to remove AFSPA from Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said the state government has been mounting pressure on the Central government for the removal of the ‘Disturbed Area’ tag from Manipur.

He was briefing to the media during the release of the Manipur government’s 2022 yearly calendar and diary by the Directorate of Information and Public Relation (DIPR) at the chief minister’s bungalow in Imphal West.

CM Biren explained that as there are various proscribed groups which are in suspension of operation (SoO) and some which are unwilling to indulge in a peace talk, the Central government might be closely monitoring the situation for any possibility.

Regarding the demand of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status of the Meetei community by the STDCM, the chief minister assured to find a way out very soon to meet their demands.

Biren said, “The state government does not oppose the demand. However, as the state has diverse communities settling in the state, there is a need for thorough observation so that it does not hurt the sentiments of any other communities.”

Appealing to the STDCM to refrain from taking up agitations such as imposing of bandhs, he said, “We will find a way out in a timely manner.”

Concerning the detection of a first Omicron case in the state, Biren appealed to the public to stay safe by following the Covid appropriate behavior. The government will also at its maximum level, work to assure that the Covid appropriate behavior is well maintained, he added.

To learn that the first victim of Omicron in the state broke the home isolation protocol was unfortunate, he further said, while assuring that the government will not let such mistake happen again.

For those who need isolation, the government doctors will strictly monitor the home isolation period and those not having proper home isolation facilities will be kept in a separate area in government hospitals, he said.

Conveying his greetings on behalf of the state government to all the people of Manipur on the arrival of the New Year 2022, he wished, “May this new year bring peace and harmony in Manipur.”

After the function, a high level meeting of the MLAs and executives of the state government was also held at the chief minister's bungalow in connection with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Manipur likely scheduled in the early part of January 2022.