| 25 June 2023
In a significant development, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a crucial meeting on Sunday, June 25, in the aftermath of the escalating violence and political turmoil in the northeastern state. This meeting followed an all-party gathering led by Amit Shah in Delhi on Saturday, where opposition parties voiced their demand for the removal of N Biren Singh from his post.
The meeting between N Biren Singh and Amit Shah took place at the latter's residence in the national capital and lasted for approximately 45 minutes. Sources reveal that the Manipur Chief Minister briefed the Home Minister about the prevailing situation in the state and apprised him of the steps taken to restore normalcy. Following the meeting, N Biren Singh returned to Manipur, indicating that discussions were expected to continue within the state.
Amit Shah's all-party meeting on Saturday witnessed the participation of 18 parties, including both ruling and opposition factions. The primary focus of the gathering was the ongoing violence in Manipur. Notably, several opposition parties advocated for an all-party delegation to visit the violence-stricken state. Furthermore, during the extensive four-hour-long meeting, some parties strongly demanded the immediate dismissal of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the imposition of President's rule in Manipur, which is presently governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Prior to this high-level meeting, nine BJP MLAs sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the loss of faith among the people of Manipur towards the N Biren Singh-led government. The MLAs expressed their concerns by presenting a five-point memorandum, emphasizing the lack of trust and confidence in the current administration.
In the all-party meeting convened by Amit Shah, the Home Minister stated that Manipur was gradually returning to normalcy, asserting that no deaths had been reported due to violence since June 13. He assured the attendees that the Modi government remained committed to resolving the Manipur problem by engaging all stakeholders. Amit Shah's objective behind organizing the meeting was to seek cooperation from all political parties and unite efforts to defuse the ongoing crisis, thus reinstating peace in Manipur.
The gathering witnessed the presence of various political parties, including the BJP, the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena, the Trinamool Congress, the Mizo National Front, the BJD, the AIADMK, the DMK, the RJD, the Samajwadi Party, and the AAP. This wide representation indicated the significance of the issue at hand and the collective responsibility of political leaders to address the unrest.
The root cause of the recent turmoil in Manipur can be traced back to the 'Tribal Solidarity March' held on May 3, which was organized by the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. This event triggered ethnic clashes and led to a worsening law and order situation in the state.
As Manipur strives to regain stability and peace, the meeting between N Biren Singh and Amit Shah holds paramount importance in shaping the future trajectory of the state. It remains to be seen how the government and political parties will collaborate to address the demands of various communities and restore harmony in Manipur.
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