Guwahati: The Union Home Ministry has requested that sections of the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh be surveyed and aligned in order to expedite the installation of border fencing. Myanmar is bordered by four states in the Northeast: Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. On February 28, this year, the Mizoram Assembly unanimously voted to reject the Center’s proposal to fence off the India-Myanmar border and do away with the Free Movement Regime (FMR). The government of Nagaland opposes the border fence and the removal of the FMR, as do practically all state organisations. It should be mentioned that Church leaders are allegedly opposing the border fence with Myanmar.
On March 1, the Nagaland Assembly also overwhelmingly approved a resolution asking the Center to reevaluate its choice to remove the FMR and erect a fence along the border between India and Myanmar. Following an attack by the Bangladeshi Army against the rebel group Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA), the refugees from Bangladesh from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) left their villages and sought safety in Mizoram. In addition to the Bangladeshi refugees, once the military seized control in Myanmar in February 2021, some 36,000 Myanmarese sought sanctuary there at various times in Mizoram. Approximately 10,000 Kuki-Zomi tribe members, including women and children, sought refuge in Mizoram following the outbreak of ethnic violence in neighbouring Manipur in May of last year.The Kuki-Zomi-Chin tribes of Bangladesh, Manipur, and Myanmar are related to the Mizo people ethnically and culturally. They also speak comparable languages.
The Union Home Ministry’s letter was submitted in the state assembly by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. In light of the above, the State Governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur are requested to hold meetings, discussions, and surveys with the Assam Rifles, Border Roads organisation, and other relevant departments in order to tonalize the locations and alignment of stretches along the Indo-Myanmar border for fence construction. This is on top of the preparation of DPRs for the remaining stretch of Arunachal Pradesh (480 km) and Manipur (243 km) on a priority basis. Regarding this, Assam Rifles is asked to offer the required backing for the same.
According to Manipur’s BJP lawmaker Rajkumar Imo Singh, “The Union Home Ministry has asked to expedite the whole border fencing construction work by conducting survey and alignment of stretches along the Indo Myanmar border, especially the Manipur stretch of 243 km. This is a major decision taken by the Central Government regarding the fencing of the In Indo-Myanmar Border.” This notification letter was distributed by the CM on the House floor. Even though not all of the Central Government’s efforts to restore peace and normalcy to Manipur have been successful, the State’s indigenous population has benefited greatly from the identification of illegal migrants, the removal of free movement rights (FMR) to prevent immigration, the construction of border fencing to prevent illegal immigration and refugee trafficking, and the transfer of some paramilitary forces that were posing a serious threat to peace efforts in the State.
The chief minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, said in the state legislature that the integrity of our state has not been compromised by the NDA government. “Our government is unwavering in its dedication to upholding and safeguarding the rights of our Indigenous people.”
“The division between Manipur’s hill and valley regions was a result of biassed treatment during the previous administration,” he continued. But we have made tremendous progress in closing this gap under the direction of the BJP government. Because of our dedication to equitable development, every area of our state gets the consideration and funding it is due. “Some of the state’s districts were established by the previous governments to serve their political interests rather than for administrative efficiency,” he stated.
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