Amit Shah junks talk of Manipur CM's replacement, says sure of restoration of peace
Aditi Tandon/Animesh Singh
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday exuded confidence of restoration of peace in violence-hit Manipur and said the state had been incident free in the past three days.
The home minister firmly junked talks of Manipur CM N Biren Singh’s resignation or replacement.
“There were sporadic cases of violence of late but largely over the last three months Manipur has been relatively calm. There has been no incident for three days. We are sure of regaining control in the state and restoration of peace,” Shah said in an answer to a question after he had laid out detailed achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA dispensation’s first 100 days.
Rejecting claims of any plans to replace Chief Minister N Biren Singh or his resignation in the light of law and order challenges in the northeastern state, Shah, answering a related query, said, “Who told you that Biren Singh is being asked to step down.”
Shah said the government had undertaken four strategic plans to restore peace in the state — completed fencing on 30 km of Indo-Myanmar border with plans to fence the entire 1500 km border; deployed CRPF at strategic locations; ended free visitation across the border with Myanmar and mandated visas for travel besides engaging sparring ethic groups Kukis and Meiteis on a regular basis.
“It is an ethic issue and it can't be resolved unless both ethnicities engage in talks. We are talking to both,” the Home Minister said adding that there was no place to replace Manipur CM Biren Singh.