Imphal: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has assured a 19-member delegation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Manipur to deal with appropriate authorities for necessary action and approvals for their demands.
A crucial meeting was held with senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi on Monday. The CSOs urged Centre to initiate a concrete, time-bound roadmap to resolve the prolonged crisis in the state.
The meeting, lasted for over three and a half hours, was attended by representatives of three prominent CSOs, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (Amuco), and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (Focs).
The delegation engaged in an extensive dialogue with A.K. Mishra, Advisor (Northeast), Rajesh Kamble, moint director of the Intelligence Bureau, and other MHA officials.
In a joint statement issued by the three civil bodies, said, during the discussion, the delegation strongly reiterated its unwavering position on safeguarding Manipur’s territorial integrity, stressing that any initiative which could potentially undermine it would be unacceptable to the people of the state.
The CSOs demanded immediate steps to restore free movement across Manipur, calling it a constitutional right and a critical precondition for peace and normalcy. They also discussed the urgent need for a phased and time-bound plan for the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original homes, proposing that the process be completed within this year.
The delegation emphasized the importance of implementing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) or a similar mechanism to tackle the issue of illegal immigration, which they described as a root cause of demographic concerns in the region.
They made it clear that any extension of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreements with militant groups should only be considered after comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders in the state.
Urging greater accessibility, the delegation requested that future rounds of dialogue with the MHA be held in Imphal to ensure broader participation. They also expressed their willingness to engage in multi-stakeholder meetings, provided the aim is to restore peace and normalcy across the state.
Additional issues raised during the meeting included the long-pending inquiry report on the Gwaltabi incident, which the delegation said required immediate attention. A memorandum highlighting urgent concerns about farmers’ security and safety was submitted to be forwarded to the Union Home minister.
The delegation also discussed the MHA’s recent directive mandating the identification of illegal immigrants within 30 days, expressing concern over the lack of mechanisms to ensure fairness and proper implementation. They also submitted a detailed report on the construction of an illegal 343-kilometre road along the Churachandpur–Kangpokpi axis, seeking urgent intervention and investigation.
“The MHA officials assured the delegation that the matters raised are being seriously considered and will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for necessary action and approvals. Outcomes and follow-up developments are expected in the coming days,” said the statement.
