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India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
25 BJP MLAs meet in Imphal to push for popular government
Imphal (Manipur) [India], May 30 (ANI): Nearly 25 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs are meeting at the residence of party MLA Thongam Biswajit Singh in Imphal to push for the formation of a popular government in Manipur. On May 28, nearly 10 MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the National People's Party (NPP), and one Independent MLA, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal to stake a claim to form a government in the state. Ten MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the NPP, and one Independent MLA, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Wednesday, demanding the formation of a 'popular' government in the ethnic violence-hit state. Their meeting with the governor came amid a civil disobedience campaign in the Imphal valley led by a Meitei organisation, which alleged that central armed forces had insulted the state's identity by masking the words 'Manipur State Transport' on a state-run bus on May 20. 'The majority of people want a popular government installed, which is why we came here to meet the Governor,' Independent MLA Sapam Nishikanta Singh told reporters after the meeting. 'We also discussed other things, like the functioning of the President's rule may not be the same after the formation of a popular government. Primarily and basically, the main point was the formation of a popular government. The response of the Governor was also nice,' he added. President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, days after BJP leader N. Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister. Ethnic conflict broke out in the State on May 3, 2023, causing the loss of lives of hundreds of people. (ANI)
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Home Secretary likely to visit Manipur next week
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is likely to visit Manipur next week, on June 2 and June 3, in the wake of fresh protests and a 'civil disobedience' call by Meitei groups in the northeastern State over the May 20 incident in Gwaltabi. On that day, security forces allegedly tried to cover the word 'Manipur' on a State transport bus that was ferrying journalists to the hill district of Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily festival. After arriving in Imphal, the Home Secretary is likely to visit the Kuki-Zo areas in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi to review relief and rehabilitation work and the overall security scenario in the State, officials said. In an unprecedented turn of events, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, upon his arrival from Delhi on May 29, had to take a helicopter for the seven-kilometre journey from Imphal Airport to Raj Bhavan as protestors swarmed the roads seeking his apology for the Gwaltabi incident. The Coordination Committee for Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an Imphal-based Meitei civil society group, has called for the removal of all top government officials in the State, including the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Chief Secretary. This week, civilians also locked Government of India offices. The civil disobedience call given by COCOMI continues, with journalists boycotting all government functions and events. After President's Rule was imposed in the State on February 13, there has been a sharp drop in the number of violent incidents, and more than 350 people have been arrested for extortion, abductions, and threatening civilians. However, around 60,000 people who were displaced from their homes when ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people started in May 2023 are yet to be resettled and continue to live in relief camps. Around 250 people have been killed in the ethnic violence so far. Several civil society groups and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded the restoration of the democratic set-up, and 10 Manipur legislators met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on May 28 at the Raj Bhavan to seek the formation of a 'popular' government. Earlier, on May 5, BJP's North East in-charge Sambit Patra met former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, BJP legislators in the valley and hills, and Kuki-Zo and Zomi civil society organisations. After the Gwaltabi incident, representatives of two different Meitei civil society organisations were called to Delhi to meet A.K. Mishra, the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) North-East Adviser. On April 4, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament that both communities in Manipur 'should understand that dialogue is the only way forward,' and that the Union government is not in favour of continuing President's Rule in the State 'even for a single day.' He reiterated that a Manipur High Court order had triggered the violence in the State in May 2023, adding that the interpretation of the order led to insecurities among the tribal community about losing reservation status and it became a 'tribals versus non-tribal' issue.
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Manipur Governor reviews flood, displaced persons' conditions
Imphal, May 30 (UNI) Manipur Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, on Friday reviewed the overall conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in various relief camps in the hills and the valley districts of Manipur. While chairing the meeting held at the conference hall of Raj Bhavan, Governor along with Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, Administrative Secretaries, and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts, discussed the current status of the livelihood, skill development, medical support, and education of the IDPs. The Deputy Commissioners gave a comprehensive briefing on several key initiatives taken up for the IDPs. Governor commended the efforts made and instructed the officials to enhance their initiatives. The governor also chaired a meeting to review the flood-related preparedness in the state. During the meeting Governor reviewed the overall preparedness with the stakeholders and agencies such as the Water Resources Department, Relief & Disaster Management, MAHUD, PWD, MI, Forest, CAF&PD, and the Deputy Commissioners regarding their role and preparedness to control and mitigate floods. He also reviewed the drainage management system in crucial locations that are important in flood management. Representatives of NHPC and LDA also attended the meeting. Governor directed the stakeholders to exert their utmost efforts and ensure that effective measures are implemented to manage flood control. UNI NS BD
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Manipur Governor reviews conditions of displaced persons amid ongoing ethnic violence
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla reviewed the overall conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in various relief camps in the hills and the valley districts of Manipur. While chairing the meeting held at the conference hall of Raj Bhavan, Imphal, Governor along with Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, Administrative Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts, discussed the status with respect to the livelihood, skill development, medical support and education of the IDPs. The Deputy Commissioners gave a comprehensive briefing on several key initiatives taken up for the IDPs. Governor commended the efforts made and instructed the officials to enhance their initiatives. In Manipur, at least 258 people have been killed and over a thousand people injured in the ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the non-tribal Meitei people since May 3, 2023. More than 60,000 people have been displaced from their homes and villages who are staying in relief camps in different districts. The ethnic violence between the non-tribals Meiteis and tribal Kuki-Zo broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Governor also chaired a meeting to review the flood related preparedness in the state. During the meeting, the Governor reviewed the overall preparedness with the stakeholders and agencies such as Water Resources Department, Relief & Disaster Management, MAHUD, PWD, Forest, CAF&PD and the Deputy Commissioners regarding their role and preparedness to control and mitigate floods. He also reviewed the drainage management system in crucial locations that are important in flood management. Representatives of NHPC also attended the meeting. Governor directed the stakeholders to exert their utmost efforts and ensure that effective measures are implemented to manage flood control.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Manipur government takes action after controversial incident involving state transport signage
The Manipur government announced that strict action would be taken against those who are responsible for hiding the "Manipur State Transport Corporation" signage in front of the government bus on May 20. Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh said that the state administration has taken the reported untoward incident with utmost seriousness, and the incident is deeply regretted. 'In response, the Governor (Ajay Kumar Bhalla) has constituted an inquiry committee comprising the Commissioner, Home and the Secretary IT, which is to submit its report in a time-bound manner. We would like to assure all concerned that once the report is submitted and those responsible for the lapses, if any, are identified, strict action will be taken,' the Chief Secretary said in a statement. He said that the state would also ensure that such an incident does not recur in future, adding that the administration is committed to the integrity of the state of Manipur and the only aim of all these efforts is to establish lasting peace in the state. The administration once again requests all to cooperate in maintaining the public order, said the statement. The Chief Secretary said that the five-day (May 20 to 24) Shirui Lily Festival was organised in Ukhrul district as part of the normalcy-restoration process, and the festival attracted about 1.70 lakh people. 'People of all communities travelled with families from valley areas and other parts of the state, as well as from outside the state to Ukhrul district to attend the festival as the state administration provided full-proof security and a safe environment for festive activities,' Singh said, however, one unfortunate incident occurred on May 20, when a Manipur State Road Transport Bus ferrying Journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival was stopped and the name of the state was reportedly covered, has drawn wide criticism. There had been no instructions whatsoever or even a remote thought of covering the name of the state, as has been alleged, he clarified. 'This has been amply clarified by the state government as well as by the responsible political leadership. What transpired on the ground would be revealed after a thorough inquiry only,' the Chief Secretary said. Various political parties, leaders and organisations protested the incident. After a 48-hour shutdown in the six Imphal valley regions on May 21-23, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the Meitei community apex body, since May 25, has been spearheading their second phase of agitation in Manipur in protest against the hide of the state's name from a government bus on May 20. The agitation includes a daily gherao at the main gate of the Governor's bungalow and holding rallies. The COCOMI also demanded a public apology from the Governor for the May 20 incident, and demanded the resignation of Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Security Advisor to the government, Kuldiep Singh and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, holding them responsible for failing to protect the dignity and integrity of the state of Manipur.
