Imphal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that the President’s rule in Manipur was imposed at the right moment, citing the gradual return of peace in the state.
Shah claimed that the situation is now relatively peaceful, with normal life resuming, and the Home Ministry engaging in separate discussions with the Meitei and Kuki communities.
The Home Minister acknowledged that Manipur has experienced ethnic violence in the past, with some instances lasting three to four years. When questioned about potential delays in imposing central rule, Shah stated that it was crucial for both communities to accept the decision, emphasizing that timing was everything.
The ethnic violence, which began in May 2023, has resulted in over 260 deaths and thousands displaced. The conflict started after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Despite challenges, the central government has made efforts to bring the warring communities to the negotiating table.
Shah’s comments come after the President’s rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The state assembly has been put under suspended animation.