Union Home Minister Amit Shah has addressed the volatile situation in Manipur during a press conference marking the first 100 days of the BJP government’s third term.
Mr. Shah’s remarks come at a time when Manipur is grappling with ethnic violence, primarily between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which escalated again recently after a period of relative calm.
What did the Home Minister say?
The Home Minister began by acknowledging the complexity of the situation, describing the violence as racially motivated, and said the situation necessitates dialogue between the conflicting groups for a lasting solution.
‘We are hopeful to bring the situation under control,’ he stated, emphasizing that dialogue is the only way forward. The Home Minister confirmed that the government talking to both the Kuki and Meitei groups, aiming to foster peace through understanding and negotiation.
Mr. Shah touched upon the humanitarian aspect of the crisis, announcing that the government will open Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars across Manipur to provide essential commodities at reasonable prices. He said the initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to support the affected population, with plans to establish 16 new centers, equally distributed between the valley and hill regions.
Border Fencing
Mr. Shah’s strategy included addressing what he identified as a root cause of the conflict – the porous India-Myanmar border.
‘We have started fencing the border,’ Mr. Shah announced, revealing that 30 km of fencing has already been completed. He said the central government has allocated funds for fencing the entire 1,500 km border, aiming to curb infiltration, which has been a point of contention and a source of instability in the region.
In a move to further secure the border, Shah disclosed that the agreement allowing free movement between India and Myanmar has also been nullified. “Entry into India is now allowed only with a valid visa,” he clarified, aiming to regulate movement and reduce unauthorized entries that could fuel unrest.