Imphal: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Imphal on Friday for a two-day visit to assess the security situation in Manipur. Shortly after his arrival, he met with Chief Minister N Biren Singh at the CM’s Secretariat in Babupara. The meeting, aimed at reviewing the state’s security and law & order, was attended by high-ranking officials, including Lieutenant General RC Tiwari, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Abhijit S. Pendhakar, General Officer Commanding 3 Corps, and Major General Ravroop Singh, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South). The Army Chief had planned visits to Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh, but these were canceled due to adverse weather conditions. General Dwivedi departed for New Delhi around 11 AM on Saturday.
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Chief Minister N Biren expressed optimism that General Dwivedi’s visit would lead to a constructive roadmap for restoring peace in Manipur. Speaking to media at CM’s Bungalow on Saturday, he emphasised the central government’s commitment to addressing the crisis in Manipur. He said that the Army Chief’s state visit shows the extent of seriousness Centre has in handling Manipur issue. He also mentioned that their discussions covered potential solutions to the ongoing unrest. Responding to questions about the central government’s possible talks with certain Kuki outfits under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, CM Biren clarified that no concrete information had been disclosed by the Centre yet.
In addition to the security review, Chief Minister Biren addressed the issue of deteriorating roads in Imphal. He assured the public that road repairs would commence promptly after the monsoon season. The recent floods have worsened road conditions, causing significant inconvenience, but the Chief Minister assured that repair work would begin as soon as weather conditions improve.
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Chief Minister N Biren Singh also expressed his gratitude to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for recognizing Manipuri as an Associate Official Language in four districts of Assam, fulfilling a long-standing desire of the Manipuri community in the neighbouring state.
On a separate note, CM Biren took aim at the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning their stance on national unity. He raised concerns about resolutions passed by the Abdullah family during the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the Congress of attempting to disintegrate India. He questioned whether the Congress supports the idea of a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir and intends to re-impose Article 370 and Article 35A, reflecting the ongoing political tensions regarding Jammu and Kashmir.
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