Accuses UPA Government of Dismissing Manipur's Identity and Denying Long-standing Demand
Imphal, April 1 — Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led UPA government, accusing it of rejecting the demand for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state back in 2012. Singh also alleged the then government was engaged in “blatant appeasement of illegal immigrants” at the cost of indigenous citizens.Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Singh recalled that during a Parliament session on September 4, 2012, Manipur's then Lok Sabha MP, Dr Thokchom Meinya, raised the issue of implementing ILP in the state. However, Singh said the Congress government not only delayed the matter but outright rejected it.
Quoting the response given by then Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mullappally Ramachandran, Singh said,
“The Inner Line Permit System under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 applies only to the three North-Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland which cannot be extended to the State of Manipur as per extant regulation.”
"No Empathy, Just Bureaucratic Dismissal": Singh
Expressing disappointment, Singh said the rejection showed a lack of empathy and awareness about Manipur's unique history and identity.Singh also questioned whether Congress leaders in Manipur had ever informed the people about the rejection, calling it a “shameless denial” of the state's legitimate demand for ILP.“No empathy, no willingness to consider Manipur’s distinct history and identity, just a cold bureaucratic dismissal,” he wrote.
Allegations of Neglect and Appeasement
Continuing his tirade, Singh accused Congress of “deliberate neglect” and “blatant appeasement of illegal immigrants”, saying the party treated the indigenous population as second-class citizens.He further questioned whether Congress ever engaged with the people or showed any empathy.“The truth is, Congress never cared. Our voices were ignored, our identity trampled, and our legitimate demands laughed off in Parliament,” he added.
“They stayed silent, unmoved, disconnected and completely absent from the ground.”
Credits BJP Government for Granting ILP in 2019
Singh contrasted the Congress's actions with the BJP government's move in 2019 to grant ILP to Manipur. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for recognising and fulfilling the state’s long-standing demand.He added that the Centre understood the socio-political realities of Manipur and extended the ILP as a “constitutional safeguard” to protect its people.“It was the BJP Government under Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi and Hon’ble Home Minister @AmitShah that finally respected Manipur’s sentiments,” Singh stated.