Imphal/Guwahati
Seeking to bring an end to the unabated violence and find a way out for a harmonious co-existence of the Meiteis and the Kukis, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday went about business right from the morning meeting different stakeholders — women leaders, prominent personalities, church and political leaders and civil society representatives — even as a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a government job to the next of kin of violence victims was announced.
The compensation amount will be borne equally by the Centre and the State. The decision was taken at a meeting between the Union Home Minister and Chief Minister N Biren Singh, late on Monday.
Amit Shah’s consultations with various stake-holders started off with a breakfast meeting with a group of women leaders followed by separate meetings with prominent personalities and civil society organisations besides a “meeting with leaders of various political parties” as part of his outreach.
“Held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur. Reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur. Together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state,” Shah tweeted.
The Home Minister, in a separate tweet, said “Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different Civil Society Organisations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur.”
Later, the Home Minister visited Churachandpur, the scene of one of the worst rioting, to hold talks with Kuki civil society leaders. Shah who flew down in a helicopter was accompanied by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and IB chief Tapan Kumar Deka. He also met church leaders and intellectuals from the Kuki community to understand their grievances and find ways to bring peace to the northeastern State.
Manipur has been bearing the brunt of a Statewide ethnic conflict for nearly a month now with nearly 100 persons killed even as, of late, there has been a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces. The security forces arrested 40 militants on Sunday, the CM informed.
In Shah’s meeting it was also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG gas, rice and other food products will be made available in large quantities to cool down prices. The Home Minister flew in to Imphal Monday night.
Ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then there have been waves of unrest including the latest round of clashes which saw at least 5 dead on Sunday. Around 10,000 personnel of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, besides those from other paramilitary forces, have been deployed to bring back normalcy in Manipur.
MEANWHILE
- Congress leaders, led by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, met President Droupadi Murmu seeking her urgent intervention and a high-level inquiry commission headed by a serving or retired Supreme Court judge to probe the violence. They handed over a 12-point charter of demands
- In Pune, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said the challenges in Manipur have not disappeared, but expressed hope that things will settle down in some time while noting the situation in the north-eastern state now is not related to insurgency.
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Centre seeking permission to visit the northeastern state, a senior official said on Tuesday.
