Manipur CM skips North Eastern Council meeting chaired by Amit Shah in Shillong

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh skips NEC meeting due to ethnic violence; Amit Shah emphasizes peace and development in Northeast.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh skipped the North Eastern Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Shillong on January 19.

Officials said that Mr. Singh did not attend the meeting due to the prevailing law and order situation in the State that has been affected by ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and Meitei people since May 2023. At least six people, including two police personnel, were killed in various incidents of violence in the State in the past three days.

The Chief Ministers and Governors of Sikkim and all the seven Northeastern States were present at the meeting.

Mr. Shah said that the Northeast, which was struggling with problems related to various ethnic, linguistic, border, and extremist groups, has begun a “fresh and durable era of peace” in the last 10 years.

The Minister said that after the three criminal laws are notified, the country’s “criminal justice system will become the most modern and scientific in the world” within three years. The date of the implementation of the three new criminal laws that were passed by the Parliament in December is yet to be notified.

The Minister said that in the 50 years of its establishment, the NEC has increased the pace of development of the region by providing a policy-related platform to all the States and simplifying the solutions to their problems. He said that in these 50 years, more than 12,000 km of roads, power plants, and many institutes of national excellence have been established in the region.

The use of technology in administration has been enhanced through the use of the North-Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC). He said that the language, culture, food, attire, and natural beauty of the Northeast will give a great boost to this region in global tourism.