Imphal, May 10: Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Sunday stated that Manipur’s long-standing issues cannot be resolved through temporary or “band-aid” approaches and called for a permanent and collective strategy to tackle illegal immigration and border-related concerns in the state.
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| Former Chief Minister N. Biren Sing. (File Photo) |
He was addressing the Reception and Presentation Ceremony of senior citizens aged 80 years and above of Laipham Khunou, held at Leitong Shanglen, Laipham Khunou Mamang Leikai, Imphal. The programme was organised by the Laipham Khunou Senior Citizens Welfare Association (LKSCWA).
During his speech, Biren Singh said the present crisis in Manipur is not the first conflict witnessed by the state. Referring to historical incidents, he mentioned the Seven Years’ Devastation (Chahi Taret Khuntakpa), the Naga-Kuki clashes between 1993 and 1998, the Kuki-Paite conflict, and the Meitei-Meitei Pangal clashes.
He stated that repeated temporary settlements without lasting solutions have only intensified the problems over time and warned that unresolved issues would become a greater burden for future generations.
Highlighting measures taken during his tenure as Chief Minister, Biren Singh said the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), a long-standing public demand, was finally achieved under his government. He recalled that many students and women activists had faced hardships and even sacrificed their lives while demanding the ILP system in Manipur.
On border security, the former Chief Minister stated that fencing work along the Indo-Myanmar border had significantly progressed during his tenure. He claimed that while only around 3 to 4 kilometres of the 398-kilometre border had previously been fenced, nearly 60 kilometres have now been completed, with the remaining work expected to be finished within the next one or two years.
He also spoke about the regulation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), stating that under the new system, individuals entering from across the border are required to provide biometric details. According to him, biometric registration helps prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards and passports.
Clarifying differences between the ILP and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Biren Singh said the ILP regulates the entry of Indian citizens from outside the state, while the NRC is intended to identify foreigners based on a specified base year.
He appealed to the people of Manipur to take a united stand on the NRC issue and collectively demand its implementation from the Central Government with 1951 as the base year. He stressed that the NRC cannot be implemented solely by the state government and requires approval from the Centre.
Biren Singh further claimed that during his government, illegal immigrants were already being identified and deported under the Foreigners Act, 1946, through biometric verification and documentation processes.
Referring to official communications from the Union Home Ministry after the violence of May 3, 2023, he said the state government had been authorised to continue identifying foreigners and collecting biometric data, with the process later extended till March 31, 2024.
He added that continuing such identification drives for another few years could substantially address the issue of illegal immigration in the state.
The former Chief Minister also expressed concern over what he described as misinformation and confusion surrounding the NRC and related issues, stating that many people comment on the matter without understanding the actual mechanisms and the work already undertaken by the government.
