Manipur: Government Engages in Talks with Rebel Group for Peace Deal

IMPHAL: In recent reports, Manipur's Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, has affirmed that talks between the government and a valley-based armed group have been initiated in Imphal. He stated, "There is active engagement for negotiations with a particular group to bring them back to the mainstream." However, he emphasized that it is too early to divulge detailed information to the public, but there is steady progress.

The rebel group in question is considered a prominent one, and this development harks back to a previous tripartite ceasefire agreement signed during the Congress regime. Acknowledging the suffering experienced by the people of Manipur due to prolonged violence, CM Singh stressed the need to focus on developmental aspects to prevent violence from overshadowing public conscience continually.

The government is diligently working on a resettlement program for displaced victims and has appointed teams of MLAs to facilitate this process. CM Singh assured that the government is committed to helping rebuild the houses of the displaced victims according to their preferences, whether built by the government or privately.

The resettlement process is primarily underway for areas such as Churachandpur district's Yaithibi Loukol and Kangpokpi. CM Singh sought the public's support for their successful resettlement, stating that the government has arranged for the provision of winter equipment and food to alleviate the plight of those in relief camps during the cold season.

Furthermore, CM Singh announced that the 'controversial' Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reformation Act has been rectified by the government, with plans to implement the rectified act in the near future.

During a foundation stone-laying ceremony for various projects, CM Singh appealed to the public for their support in maintaining the time-tested bonds of the 34 different ethnic groups in Manipur to restore peace and secure the state's future. He explained that the root cause of the ongoing crisis, attributed to illegal immigrants and drug lords involved in mass poppy cultivation and forest destruction, is deeply rooted and did not start recently.

CM Singh highlighted the National Investigation Agency's recognition of the crisis as a conspiracy by Myanmar and Bangladesh-based militant groups to wage war against India. The Central government has a clear understanding of the situation in Manipur, as evident in its order to the state government to identify illegal immigrants soon after the crisis outbreak.

CM Singh emphasized that the present government is committed to saving Manipur and preserving its future, citing the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), efforts to lift the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), and initiatives to detect illegal immigrants and combat illicit drug-related activities.

Addressing the issue of Andro residents being denied Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates, CM Singh assured that the state government would make every effort to ensure that the people of Andro receive SC certificates within two to three months.

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