@PIB_India
Staff Reporter
Home Minister Amit Shah today chaired an all-party meeting in New Delhi to discuss the prevailing situation in Manipur. BJP President J P Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, TMC leader Derek O’Brien, Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha and CPI(M) MP John Brittas among others were present in the meeting.
Sources said that in the meeting, Home Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been constantly monitoring the situation in Manipur since day one and guiding everyone with full sensitivity to find a solution to this problem. He added that Modi government is committed to solving the Manipur problem by taking everyone together, and the priority is that no more lives should be lost. Mr Shah said that the situation in Manipur is slowly returning to normal since 13th June and 1,800 looted weapons have been surrendered so far. The Home Minister said, 20 medical teams have been sent, and supply of all essential items including medicines is being ensured.
Home Minister said, fencing work of 10 kilometer of Myanmar-Manipur border has been completed, tendering work for 80 kilometer of border fencing has been completed and survey of remaining border is underway. He solicited cooperation of all the political parties to help defuse the situation and restore peace and trust among various communities in Manipur at the earliest. He expressed gratitude to all political parties for giving valuable suggestions to resolve the Manipur issue.
Talking to media after the meeting, BJP leader Sambit Patra said that the Home Ministry gave a presentation during the meeting and explained what triggered the violence in Manipur and the steps have been taken so far. He said all parties raised their concerns by keeping political differences aside.
The North Eastern State is witnessing sporadic violent incidents for over one and half months. Mr Shah visited Manipur last month and met a cross section of people to bring back peace in the State. During his stay in Manipur, the Home Minister had said that any kind of violation of the Agreement of Suspension of Operation would be strictly dealt with and treated as a breach of the Agreement. He also urged those who are in possession of weapons to surrender them to the police.
Meanwhile Congress on Saturday alleged that its leader and former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh was not given enough time to present his points representing the “pain and anguish of the people of Manipur” during the all-party meeting called by Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
The Congress also demanded the immediate sacking of chief minister N Biren Singh.
“More than 50 days after the violence in Manipur started, the home ministry organised an all-party meeting today. I was nominated by the AICC. I barely had 7-8 minutes to share my views. Manipur is my home state. I asked for additional five minutes to express my opinions, but it was denied. This is unfortunate,” Singh, a three-time Manipur chief minister, said at a press conference after the meeting.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also made similar allegations saying the meeting was “just an eye-wash and a formality”.
“As the principal Opposition party, our representative the senior most leader from Manipur, 3-time elected CM Okram Ibobi Singh, was not allowed to present his points representing the pain and anguish of the people of Manipur,” Ramesh tweeted.