Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh declared that individuals who migrated and settled in the state post-1961, regardless of their caste or community, would be identified and repatriated. This move is seen as a step to protect the ethnic groups of Manipur amid ongoing sectarian tensions since May 2023.
Singh attributed the prolonged violence in the state to the drug mafia and illegal migrants, specifically referring to the refugees from Myanmar, The Times of India reported.
Speaking at the launch of a skill development program, Singh depicted the prevailing situation in the region as a battle for survival and cultural identity, underscoring the gravity of the challenges.
The CM emphasized the immediate need to address the crisis facing the state, according an ANI report. “We are passing through troubled times. The crisis we are facing today is one of struggle for existence, survival, and identity. The properties and identity, inherited over centuries, have now become insecure due to the lack of vision of certain politicians. Our generation is insecure today, so the government is working to make your future secure,” he said
Singh reiterated the importance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s social media announcement regarding the termination of the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), emphasizing its impact on addressing internal security and demographic concerns.
The Manipur CM underscored that the government’s actions, including the erection of fences and revocation of the FMR, aimed to ensure a secure future by curbing widespread illegal immigration and illicit activities such as drug trade and weapons trafficking.
“The insecurity we have today will not be faced by the generations to come. That is why we are bearing all the criticisms,” he added.
