IMPHAL, JUNE 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said a judicial probe headed by a retired High Court Chief Justice to inquire into clashes which erupted in Northeastern State of Manipur, will soon be announced.
He also announced at a press conference held here on Thursday that a peace committee under the Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey, which will have representatives of all political parties, besides representatives from both Kuki and Meitei communities and social organisations will be set up.
“Dialogue is the only solution to the ongoing crisis in Manipur”, Shah said.
“We will soon announce a judicial probe headed by a retired High Court Chief Justice and set up a peace committee”, he said.
The Home Minister also announced that a CBI probe will be instituted to probe five criminal conspiracies and one general conspiracy behind the violence in Manipur.
He however also said, “Violence was a temporary phase, misunderstandings will go away … The situation will be soon be normal.”
Ethnic clashes broke out in the State nearly a month ago after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
After a relative lull for over a fortnight, the State witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and gunfight between militants and security forces on Sunday.
So far, over 80 people have been killed in the violence, according to officials.
Congress welcomes Shah’s peace measures for Manipur but questions delay in announcing them
The Congress welcomed the measures announced by Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday to bring back normalcy in Manipur but asked why he did not do this earlier and allowed the State to burn for a month.
In Imphal, Shah said a judicial committee headed by a retired High Court Chief Justice will soon be announced to inquire into the violent clashes that have claimed over 80 lives.
He also announced that a peace committee under Governor Anusuiya Uikey having representatives of all parties, Kuki and Meitei communities and social organisations will be set up. A CBI probe to look into FIRs alleging five criminal conspiracies and one general conspiracy behind the violence in Manipur was also announced.
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said Shah’s series of announcements on measures related to bringing Manipur back to normalcy is welcome.
“Why couldn’t he have done this weeks ago? Why did the Modi Government let Manipur burn for a month? Are only Manipuri votes valuable and Manipuri lives dispensable?” he asked on Twitter.
“The RSS’ agenda, the BJP State Government’s diabolical acts and the Union Governmen’s inaction is the reason why Manipur is bitterly divided today. And what has happened in Manipur has implications for the entire Northeast”, the Congress leader also said.
The party has claimed that the BJP’s “divisive politics” was responsible for the crisis in Manipur and has questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not made an appeal for peace to the people of the Northeastern State.
The opposition party has also questioned why Shah delayed his visit to the violence-hit State.
Shah said he visited relief camps, met both Kuki and Meitei civil groups, and discussed the peace process.
According to Shah, the leaders of both the warring Meitei and Kuki communities, as well as other civil society representatives who met him, assured that they would work to assuage hurt feelings and remove misunderstandings.
Manipur Tribal Forum to file interim application before Vacation Bench of SC
Meanwhile, according to a report in The Statesman, Manipur Tribal Forum is planning to file an urgent interim application before the Vacation Bench of the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing demanding for President’s Rule due to the continued attacks on tribal villages and complete breakdown of law & order.
Speaking to The Statesman, convener of the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi Chapter VamSuan Naulak said, “We are on our way to Supreme Court. Our Lawyer has requested for an urgent hearing to the Vacation Bench. We want President’s Rule in the State due to continued attacks on tribal communities”.
(PTI with inputs from The Statesman)
