Latest news with #Meitei
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
After huddle, 23 Manipur BJP MLAs ‘resolve' to form ‘popular' govt
Twenty-three BJP MLAs of Manipur held a meeting Friday, after which they issued a statement saying that they 'resolved to put aside personal ambitions' in the 'larger interest' of working towards the formation of a popular government in the state, which has been under President's rule since February 13 with the state Assembly being in suspended animation. The BJP has a total of 37 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, of whom seven are from the Kuki-Zo community and were not a part of the Friday meeting. While the signatories of its statement did not include former chief minister N Biren Singh or Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh, they included party MLAs who had rebelled against Biren as well as those who had backed him till his resignation on February 9. Satyabrata Singh had been one of the major dissidents against Biren Singh. This meeting came two days after a group of 10 NDA MLAs met Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla in the Imphal Raj Bhavan on May 28, claiming that they have the support of 44 MLAs for the formation of a popular government in the state. 'Acknowledging the deep public desire to see the formation of a popular government, we discussed pathways to achieve this with unity and selflessness. We resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people, and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners in Manipur,' said a statement issued after the meeting. It also stated, 'As elected representatives, we are united in our firm belief that a long-term solution to the crisis is both possible and necessary… we thoroughly examined mechanisms for inclusive dialogue involving representatives of all communities in Manipur. We strongly support the establishment of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive mediation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, aimed at building trust and consensus on critical issues.' It also stated that the idea of approaching the Governor or the BJP central leadership to appoint a 'neutral peace envoy or a panel of eminent persons, comprising voices from both within and outside Manipur' was proposed in the meeting. The statement also emphasised on the need for 'inter-community people-to-people dialogue at the grassroots level' and for the recovery of looted weapons 'both in the hills and valley.' Manipur has been roiled by a conflict between Meiteis and Kuki-Zos since May 3, 2023, which has killed over 250 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
United News of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
BJP legislators discuss ways to restore peace in Manipur
Imphal, May 31 (UNI) Twenty-three BJP MLAs have decided to call for peace following a meeting held at the residence of former Minister Th Biswajit on Friday night. The MLAs said in a joint statement that in light of the prevailing situation in Manipur, the legislators deliberated on the collective role in restoring peace, stability, and normalcy in the state. The MLAs noted the enormous suffering endured by the people of Manipur over the past two years. "As elected representatives, the BJP MLAs are united in the firm belief that a long-term solution to the crisis is both possible and necessary," said the joint statement. "Such a solution must rest on the pillars of political will, inclusive dialogue, constitutional safeguards, and impartial enforcement of law and order. It is our collective conviction that this journey must be undertaken in close cooperation between the Centre, the state, civil society, and community leaders" the statement added. During the deliberations, the MLAs examined ways for an inclusive dialogue involving representatives of all communities. They supported the establishment of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive mediation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, aimed at building trust and consensus on critical issues. In regard to the Gwaltabi incident on May 20, it urged the government to have dialogue with the media persons and civil society organisations to develop amicable understanding. The meeting also considered the feasibility of formally approaching the governor and the Central leadership to appoint a neutral peace envoy or a panel of eminent persons, comprising voices from both within and outside Manipur. Such a body, operating with the full support of the Union government and state administration, would play a vital role in facilitating impartial mediation and bridging the trust deficit among communities. It emphasized the critical importance of inter-community dialogue at the grassroots level. "This will lay the foundation for healing, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence," the statement emphasised. It also called for a well-monitored effort to recover looted weapons. Acknowledging the deep public desire to see the formation of a popular government, it discussed pathways to achieve this with unity and selflessness. It resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people, and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners in Manipur. It said the MLAs are committed to peace, justice, and the restoration of communal harmony in Manipur. The MLAs had earlier briefed Governor AK Bhalla about the need to restore a popular government in the state. UNI NS PRS
India Today
21 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Manipur BJP MLAs hold key meet to resolve to form government in people's interest
At least 23 BJP legislators met on Friday evening at former minister Thongam Biswajit Singh's residence in Imphal to form a consensus to prioritise unity among them and form a government. It has been over three months since President's Rule was imposed in the strife-stricken meeting, held amid ongoing tensions and a protracted political impasse, culminated in a joint resolution to set aside personal ambitions for the larger interests of the state and its BJP huddle came just two days after party MLA Thokchom Radheshyam stated that 44 legislators had agreed to form a popular government, asserting their readiness to act in accordance with the public's will. Notably, this figure excludes the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs and five Congress legislators. The BJP legislators expressed a collective commitment to unity, peace, and the restoration of communal harmony in Manipur. "We resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people, and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners," a statement legislators acknowledged the suffering endured by the people of Manipur over the past two years of ethnic violence between the members of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that killed over 250 people, and emphasised the necessity of a long-term, inclusive solution. They identified political will, constitutional safeguards, impartial law enforcement, and inclusive dialogue as essential pillars for resolving the the deliberations, the leaders supported the creation of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive engagement between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo also discussed the feasibility of formally requesting the appointment of a 'peace envoy' or a panel of eminent persons by the Governor and the Centre, to mediate impartially and bridge existing trust BJP MLAs underscored the importance of grassroots-level inter-community dialogue involving local governance institutions, civil society organisations, student bodies, and religious groups. They called for well-monitored disarmament efforts and the recovery of looted weapons across the hills and valley, stressing the need for central and state forces to act with strict the Gwaltabi incident on May 20, the BJP legislators urged the government to initiate dialogue with media representatives and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to arrive at an amicable President's Rule was imposed in Manipur days after N Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister, nearly two years after ethnic violence broke out in the north-eastern Watch IN THIS STORY#Manipur#Bharatiya Janta Party
The Hindu
21 hours 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.
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.
