Peace and stability in Manipur top priority: Assam CM Sarma post his Manipur visit

NEDA convenor and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that restoring peace and stability in the conflict-torn state of Manipur was the top priority at this point of time. It was a packed 8-hours for the Assam CM during his first visit to the northeastern state.

Soon after his arrival in Imphal at around 9 am this morning, CM Sarma drove straight to the Manipur Secretariat and held almost a two-hour long one-on-one meeting with his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh.

After his meeting with CM Singh, CM Sarma met Manipur Cabinet Ministers, BJP party MLAs and leaders, representatives of Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) including the COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity), AMUCO (All Manipur United Club Organizations) and Forum for Restoration of Peace.

“My visit is completely a goodwill visit. I met Hon’able CM, his Cabinet colleagues, our party leaders and Civil Society Organisations. For us peace and stability is most important. Whatever I have learnt during the discussion, will report back to Home Minister Amit Shah for further necessary action,” CM Sarma said briefing the media after his series of meetings during his day long visit to the violence-hit state.

The NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance) convenor said that today he could not meet any Kuki leaders but “I might meet that at a later date. As and when need arise we can contact them.”

He regretted the fact that he could not visit the state earlier. “I should have come little earlier. I was feeling guilty. Let us pray to the Almighty that peace just doesn’t return to Manipur but stays in Manipur”.

Speaking to the media after the meeting with Assam CM, COCOMI Assistant Coordinator Khuraijam Athouba said, “He came to express his feelings, express his sorrow about what happened in Manipur. He is concerned about both the communities. We did not press much. We said that peace and normalcy should be restored at the earliest and violence and killings should stop”.

Ashang Kasar, Forum for Restoration of Peace said that the meeting was successful. “He gave us the assurance. We pressed upon him to expedite the setting up of state level peace committee. This peace committee can do a lot of thing. Once this committee is formed, peace can be restored in Manipur”.

CM Sarma retuned to Assam later in the evening.

Also Read : Assam CM arrives in Manipur, meeting with counterpart Biren Singh underway