Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh on Monday urged the Centre to withdraw central forces from the state if their presence does not stop violence.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Singh said state security personnel should be allowed to take charge to try and restore peace in the ethnic strife-hit state if the central forces fail to do so.
Singh said peace has not returned in Manipur despite the presence of around 60,000 central forces. Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
He said, ‘The presence of around 60,000 central forces in Manipur is not able to establish peace, so it is better to remove such forces who are mostly present as mute spectators.’
He admitted that due to lack of cooperation with the state government and the public, some units of the Assam Rifles were recently withdrawn.
Singh said, ‘We are happy with the action taken to remove some units of Assam Rifles who were not cooperating with the state government and the public, but if the presence of these and other central forces cannot stop the violence, it is better to remove them and let the state forces take charge and bring peace.’
Singh proposed that the central government transfer the unified command authority to the state government headed by the chief minister. He criticized the current system as ineffective in preventing violence and argued that it is very important to transfer the unified command to the elected government at this time.
The BJP MLA said, ‘The central government will have to hand over the unified command to the state government headed by the Chief Minister and allow it to work as per the procedures laid down by law to bring peace and normalcy in the state.’
The Home Ministry had appointed former CRPF Director General Kuldeep Singh as security advisor to the Manipur government after violence broke out in the state last year.
The unified command, which oversees reports from various agencies and forces, coordinates operational requirements in consultation with the Manipur government. Singh also called upon the central government to take strict action against militant and insurgent groups that have violated the ground rules of the Suspension of Operations (SOO) agreement.
He urged Shah to cancel the SoO agreements with these groups, which he claimed were further fuelling the violence.
Additionally, Singh requested an investigation into the financing and supply of arms and ammunition, which he believes is fueling the conflict.
Singh urged the central government to initiate ‘political dialogue and engagement among all stakeholders’ to find a lasting and peaceful solution.
In an interview with PTI Video on Thursday, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh promised to restore complete peace in the state in six months with the help of the Centre. He also ruled out stepping down, saying he had neither committed any crime nor any scam.
Singh revealed for the first time that he has appointed an envoy to hold talks with Kuki-Jo and Meitei leaders. According to official figures, 226 people have been killed in clashes between the Kuki-Jo and Meitei ethnic groups since May 2023.
Asked what kind of deadline he has set for himself to restore peace, Singh indicated that dialogue as well as the involvement of the central government – whether through the Home Ministry or other agencies – would be important in bringing peace.
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