NEW DELHI: In an effort to address the continuing bloodbath in Manipur, Union home minister Amit Shah has called for an all-party meeting in New Delhi on June 24.
It follows the initial deliberations between a delegation of various parties and the home minister during his visit to the northeastern state on May 30, held at the residence of Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh in Imphal.
The gathering, which was attended by nearly all political parties from Manipur, centered on finding solutions to the ongoing crisis.
Despite several measures, violence has since continued and lives lost over a dispute involving quota for one of Manipur’s ethnic groups.
The upcoming all-party meeting, scheduled to take place at 3 pm, aims to build on the previous discussions and chart a path towards peace. Union home minister Shah may seek the opinion of political leaders from Manipur to collectively address the deep-rooted ethnic issues that have contributed to the violence.
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Since May 3, ethnic clashes in Manipur have resulted in more than 110 deaths, straining relations between communities and raising concerns about the social fabric of the state. Clashes erupted after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Had a meeting with a delegation of leaders from various political parties in Imphal, Manipur. pic.twitter.com/5WtEq48Jvf
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2023
The announcement of the meeting follows public concerns by leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citizens, and Army veterans.
On Wednesday, nine BJP MLAs belonging to the Meitei community wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the people of the state have lost complete faith in the N Biren Singh-led government.
In a five-point memorandum, they said: “Some special measures for proper administration and function of the government by following the rule of law may kindly be resorted to so that the trust and confidence of the people are restored.”
ALSO READ: Amit Shah meets delegations of Kukis, Meiteis in riot-hit Manipur
Last week, Union minister of state for external affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh’s house in Imphal was set on fire by a mob, prompting him to criticize his own government for failing to maintain law and order in the state.
Former Indian Army chief General VP Malik has also sought ‘urgent attention’ to prevent the clashes between Meiteis and the Kukis. His appeal followed Lieutenant General (retired) L Nishikanta R Singh’s tweet calling Manipur “stateless”.
“I’m just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now ‘stateless’. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening?” Lt General Singh had tweeted.
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