Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, accompanied by four of his Cabinet Ministers and BJP State president Sarada Devi, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on May 14, State Minister and government spokesperson Sapam Ranjan Singh told PTI.
The meeting, which came days after Manipur witnessed massive violence that claimed more than 60 lives, was also attended by BJP national president J.P. Nadda. It took place late in the evening.
“The Chief Minister, four of his Cabinet Ministers and the BJP State unit chief met the Union Home Minister,” Mr. Sapam Ranjan Singh said.
He did not disclose what transpired in the meeting but said the Chief Minister would hold a press conference on May 15 morning in Imphal to brief journalists about his Delhi visit.
Mr. Sapam Ranjan Singh said the Chief Minister was returning to Manipur on May 14 night.
Sources said the Chief Minister and other members of the delegation were called to Delhi for the meeting.
The State Ministers who were present in the meeting included Th Biswajit and Govindas Konthoujam and they came to Delhi in a special aircraft, sources said.
Mr. Biren Singh and others rushed to Delhi amid the demand by 10 tribal MLAs of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group that there be a separate administration for the hill regions following clashes between the Meitei and tribal population.
The demand by the 10 MLAs of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group is significant as seven of them belong to the BJP, two are from the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and one is an Independent. The two KPA and independent MLAs are also part of the NDA led by the BJP. Speaking to The Hindu, one of the MLAs in the tribal grouping said their priority, more than a leadership change, was the re-establishment of peace in the State. “That is our priority, and for the rest please speak to the Chief Minister,” said one MLA.
‘Tribal Solidarity March’
Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern State after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and a court order to consider the demand.
The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. Meiteis account for about 53% of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute another 40% of the population and reside in hill districts. Mr. Singh had on Monday said 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses, including religious places, burnt in the ethnic violence in the State.
Manipur continued to be tense with Internet services suspended and a curfew imposed in some districts, although with longer relaxation hours.
(With PTI inputs)
