‘Don’t interfere with Manipur’s internal matter’: CM Biren to his Mizoram counterpart Lalduhoma
GENERAL
Imphal: Hitting back against the newly elected Mizoram chief minister Lalhuhoma’s version that Manipur police should not harass ‘his people’ at the border town of Moreh, his Manipur counterpart Nongthombam Biren Singh on Tuesday said Lalduhoma should not interfere with Manipur’s internal matter.
Talking to reporters on the side-lines of the state level Nupi Lan Day observance at Nupilan Memorial complex here to honour the brave Imas (mothers) who fought against the British’s repressive policies in Manipur in the two Nup Lan events (Women Uprisings) Biren said Lalduhoma’s statement on Manipur matter is a little bid beyond the Constitution.
In 1904, the first Nupi Lan broke out against a British administrative order that asked for employing males as forced labour, while the second Nupi Lan erupted on December 12, 1939 against the artificial scarcity of rice and its export outside Manipur.
“Actually as per the Constitution, we are having our own state. Whatever happening in the state of Manipur is internal matter of the Manipur government and Manipur state,” Biren said, adding that most of his colleagues of the neighbouring states called him and asked about Manipur situation.
His counterparts of other states have also expressing their willingness to help bring solution and peace in Manipur and what they could do towards that end, continued Biren.
“But, unfortunately the newly appointed chief minister of Mizoram, I have seen one comment from him saying that the Manipur state police should not harass ‘his (Lalduhoma) people’ at Moreh.
It is a little bid beyond the Constitution because it is an internal matter of the Manipur state government,” Biren added. The Mizoram CM exactly do not know what is actually happening in Moreh, Biren said, continuing that there are many communitues, inlcudng Tamils, Meiteis, Meetei Pangals ( Meetei Muslims) and Thadous living in Moreh, Biren said saying “they cannot take it (Moreh) as a community’s area.”
“So, my earnest appeal to him (Lalduhoma) is …. please do not interfere with us while we’re trying to restore peace in the state of Manipur irrespective of caste and community,” the Manipur CM said, adding that he never said anything when the Bru controversy was there in Mizoram .
“We pray only for restoration of peace in Mizoram. Like this, I want to request to everyone please pray and help restoring normalcy in the state of Manipur,” Biren added.
Speaking on the occasion earlier, the CM mentioned the contribution of womenfolk in every crucial time of the State since time immemorial.
Recognising the selfless contribution of women, the CM announced two initiatives taken up by his government in their honour, includung renaming of road stretch from Governor’s Traffic Point to Pureiromba Khongnangkhong in the heart of Imphal city as ‘Nupi Lan Road’ and the ‘Chief Minister's Ima Nongthangleima Yaipha Tengbang Scheme’.
Elaborating the newly launched scheme , Biren informed that women who are above 40 years, with no source of income and not covered under any welfare scheme taken up by the government, would be provided financial assistance of Rs 6000 per annum (Rs 500 per month).