Manipur Governor Seeks Peace, Launches Outreach Ahead of PM's Visit
PM likely to visit Kuki-Zo-majority Churachandpur before heading to Imphal: Reports
GUWAHATI: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has started an exercise to rope in the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), one of the largest Meitei civil society groups, ahead of the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state.
Indicating that Bhalla had sought the help of the BJP’s elected representatives in persuading civil society groups to welcome the Prime Minister, security sources said Modi’s itinerary would be announced officially after an assessment of the ground situation.
The Governor had held a meeting of the ruling alliance MLAs at Raj Bhavan on Sunday, attended by at least 23 legislators, including former chief minister N, Biren Singh and Speaker Th Satyabrata Singh, as well as Manipur BJP chief A. Sharda Devi.
The legislators were briefed about a tentative itinerary of the Prime Minister on September 13, that will begin after his visit to Mizoram earlier in the day.
Security sources said the Prime Minister could visit the Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur area at noon, for which the administration has started preparations at Peace Ground. From there, he is expected fly to Kangla Fort in Imphal at about 2 pm, where he may address a select gathering. He is then expected to leave for Imphal Airport by 3.30 pm to head for his scheduled visit to Assam.
Saying the security agencies were not worried about the PM’s proposed visit to Churachandpur, where civil society groups have started massive preparations to welcome him, sources said that their major concern is the defiant mood of the COCOMI over the recent Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with Kuki-Zo insurgents in Manipur.
Indicating that Bhalla asked the legislators at the meeting to persuade the COCOMI to welcome the PM’s visit, security sources said it was also communicated to the legislators that the Prime Minister was likely to meet representatives of all people displaced by the conflict and that all MLAs are likely to be invited. For legislators, a VIP enclosure audience will be arranged but they may not be able to share the dais with the PM, the security sources said. The MLAs have been asked to spread the word in their respective constituencies to avoid any disturbance during the course of the visit.
The PM was also due to visit Mizoram to inaugurate the 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang railway line before travelling to trouble-torn Manipur on September 13.