Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement was signed to maintain peace in Manipur and improve law and order. However, since some militant groups under the SoO have violated the ground rules, the Manipur government is approaching the Centre to withdraw SoO from these groups, the chief minister said.
Speaking to the media during a press conference at the CM’s Durbar Hall in Imphal on Saturday, CM Biren mentioned that the Manipur Legislative Assembly has also resolved to mount pressure on the Central government to withdraw the SoO agreement with those militant groups that are violating the ground rules in the current crisis.
"Some militant groups under SoO have already violated the ground rules and disrupted peace and tranquillity in Manipur. We are keen to expel these militant groups from the agreement, but no official update has been received from the Centre yet. However, we have received information that the Central government is discussing the matter," CM Biren said.
The SoO agreement with 25 armed Kuki militant groups in Manipur was signed with the Central Government and the Manipur government in August 2008. However, the Manipur government withdrew from the tripartite SoO agreement on March 10, 2023, with two militant groups, the Kuki National Army (KNA) and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), alleging their involvement in inciting agitation among illegal forest encroachers.
Additionally, he appreciated the Assam Legislative Assembly, especially its chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, for passing a bill that recognizes the Manipuri language as an associate state language in four different districts of Assam. He also thanked all the legislative members of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
CM Biren stated that his meeting with the Chief of the Indian Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, at his residence on Friday was productive. General Dwivedi visited Imphal to review the ground security arrangements in vulnerable areas of Manipur in connection with the ongoing unrest, the CM said.
They had a thorough discussion on restoring peace in Manipur, and Biren handed over some maps of Manipur and other relevant documents. He indicated that some positive steps might be taken after General Dwivedi returns to Delhi.
The Chief of the Indian Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, cancelled his scheduled visit to Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, and the border town of Moreh due to bad weather. The army chief left Imphal on Saturday at around 10 am.
During the conference, the chief minister alleged that the Indian National Congress and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, have repeatedly risked the nation’s unity and security to satisfy their greed for power. He accused them of exposing their ulterior motives by allying with the Abdullah family's National Conference in the Jammu and Kashmir election.
He further posed 10 different questions to the INC and Rahul Gandhi, including whether the Congress supports the National Conference’s promise of a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir and whether the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi support the JKNC’s divisive politics of granting autonomy to Kashmir.
