Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to pay a three-day visit to violence-hit Manipur from May 29 and hold meetings with various stakeholders to usher in peace in the hill state.
Talking to media persons in Guwahati, Assam minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei said, "Amit Shah has asked us to bring in peace in the strife-torn state and he himself will come to the state to ensure that peace prevails in the state. He is likely to come to Manipur on May 29 and stay in the state till June 1."
Earlier in the day, while speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Assam's Guwahati, Shah announced that he would soon visit Manipur. He appealed to the people of Manipur to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of society.
"There were clashes in Manipur after the verdict of a court. I appeal to both groups they should maintain peace. The Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in the state, but people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace in the state," the Home Minister said.
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At least 15 legislators from Manipur, including Assembly Speaker Th. Satyabrata, arrived in Assam's Guwahati on Thursday to have discussions with the Union Home Minister.
The main agenda of their talks were the problems created by Underground Groups (UGs) under a suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the government.
Of the 15 legislators, 10 belong to the Kuki-Zomi tribal group.
Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig at Home Minister Shah for failing to visit the trouble-torn state yet.
In a tweet, Jairam Ramesh said, "The Union Home Minister goes all the way to Guwahati today, but does not deem it fit to visit Imphal when Manipur has been burning for 22 days. This is the same Union Home Minister who held 16 rallies and 15 road shows in Karnataka, but cannot find time for the people of Manipur who are suffering a lot due to the ideology and politics of the so-called Double Engine Sarkar."
Violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 during a "Tribal Solidarity March" in protest against the Meiteis’ demand of Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. Tension in the state had been already simmering in view of the eviction of Kuki villagers from the reserve forest lands.
The volcano erupted immediately after a High Court order recommending granting of ST status to the Meiteis, which is a majority community in the state.
Since the outbreak of the violent ethnic clashes on May 3, at least 73 people have lost their lives, while over 230 people have been injured. On the other hand, more than 1,700 houses have been torched by miscreants, displacing over 35,000 people.