NEW DELHI: Tasked by Union home minister Amit Shah, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma went to Imphal on Saturday on a day-long visit that he said was “to discuss creating confidence-building measures” with his Manipur counterpart, N Biren Singh. Sarma also met members of the state cabinet, MLAs, BJP politicians and civil society organisations.
“For us, peace and stability in Manipur is very, very important… Whatever I have learnt and discussed during the day in Imphal, I will report the same to Shah for further action,” he said.
He added that he felt guilty at not being able to come to Manipur earlier in the month. “Today’s is a goodwill visit. Let us pray to the Almighty that peace not only comes to Manipur but it stays here permanently,” Sarma said. Sarma added that he could not meet leaders from a particular community but “as and when the need arises, I can contact them.”
Soon after his arrival in Imphal in the morning, Sarma headed to the CM’s secretariat and held a closed-door meeting with Biren Singh, some ministers and other officials. After this, he went to a hotel where he met some leaders of civil society organisations, besides some MLAs and key leaders.
The media coordinator of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Khuraijam Athouba, told the media: “The Assam CM expressed his condolences for the lives lost and said he will do whatever is needed to restore peace.”
COCOMI is an umbrella body of valley-based civil society organisations.
Soon after his arrival in Imphal, the Assam CM headed to the Manipur CM’s secretariat and held a closed-door meeting with Biren Singh, some ministers and other officials.