1,106 FIRs, 36,000 Security Forces And…: Amit Shah Briefs LS on Manipur Situation, Says No Need to Change CM – News18

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the opposition parties are politicising the situation in Manipur and added there is no need to change the chief minister in the state.

Speaking during the discussion on the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, Shah said he is ready for discussion on Manipur but the opposition is not letting it happen.

“Shameful incidents have taken place in Manipur. But it is more shameful that some people are politicising it. Before the session began, I wrote to letters that we are ready for a discussion and there should not be time light. From day one, I am ready for discussion but they don’t want it to happen and only want to protest. If they did not agree with my statement then they should have asked for the prime minister’s statement,” he said.

Shah highlighted that there was no bandh and curfew or blockade for any day during the last six years of the BJP government in Manipur.

Explaining the events that led to violence, he said, “In 2021, there was a change in government in Myanmar and the military seized power. There is a Kuki Democratic Front in Myanmar which started a movement for democracy. The military launched a crackdown on them. Since there is no fencing on the Myanmar border, a large number of Kuki people from Myanmar started to come to Manipur and Mizoram. They started settling in jungles. Manipur people started to feel their demography will change. In 2022, the Home Ministry decided that there needs to be fencing on the border. We have completed 10 km of fencing and work is underway on 7 km. The survey is underway on 600 km. This is to stop illegal immigration.”

Shah said that the Manipur High Court’s order to declare Meitis as tribals added fuel to the fire in the state.

“Meitis live in the valley and Kukis and Nagas reside in the mountains. From January 2023, we started to give those seeking shelter identity cards. We took their thumb impression, and eye impression and put their details in negative list of voter cards and Aadhar cards. But their numbers (those coming from Myanmar) increased, and Meitis started to have a sense of insecurity. On April 29, a rumour spread that 58 places of refugees have been declared as villages. This led to unrest in the valley. The Manipur HC’s order in April added fuel to the fire. The HC said Meitis should be declared as tribal. This led to unrest in the mountains and there was a clash on May 3,” he added.

Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him at 4 am and aslo at 6:30 am. “16 video conference calls were held, 36,000 CAPF personnel were sent there, used IAF planes, Chief Secretary, DGP, security advisor was changed,” he said.

Shah said that the chief minister is changed when he does not cooperate