Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Manipur on Saturday and held a series of meetings with various political figures and organizations, including Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. According to Sarma, the purpose of his visit was to create confidence building measures in Manipur and report the outcome of his deliberations to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance, emphasized the importance of peace and stability in Manipur. He mentioned that he did not meet with any leaders or MLAs of the Kuki community during his visit, but instead engaged with ministers, BJP leaders, heads of various Civil Society Organisations and key leaders to learn about the situation in the state.
I hope that we will be able to restore peace and stability permanently in Manipur, Sarma said before leaving Imphal for Guwahati. He added that the discussions with leaders in Manipur were part of a larger effort to create confidence-building measures across the region.
The Assam Chief Minister‘s visit comes at a time when there is tension between the Kuki and Zomi communities in Manipur. The Kukis have alleged that they are being sidelined and discriminated against by the Manipur government, while the Zomis have pushed for a separate district for their community. Sarma did not address these specific issues, but he did mention that the focus was on achieving peace and stability in the state.
Overall, Sarma’s visit was seen as a positive step towards building stronger ties between Manipur and Assam. His efforts to engage with various stakeholders and report back to the Union Home Minister show a commitment to creating a more unified and peaceful North-East region.
