Ukhrul: Hopingson A Shimray, vice-president of the Manipur BJP, has raised concerns about the disproportionate growth of villages in Manipur, which he claims has led to an abnormal increase in the population of certain communities, posing a threat to the indigenous people of the state.
Speaking to media persons on Saturday after the BJP Ukhrul district executive meeting at Zimik Plaza in Ukhrul district headquarters, Shimray acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue but emphasized its significance. He pointed out that certain communities in Manipur have seen a substantial increase in their representation in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, growing from a few to 10 legislators.
Shimray defended Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s efforts to address the issue of illegal immigration, noting that while the intention was to resolve the matter through legal and peaceful means, it unfortunately escalated into a violent crisis. “The chief minister has done the difficult job of ‘belling the cat,'” Shimray said.
According to the BJP leader, the ongoing crisis in Manipur is the result of long-standing issues that have come to a head under the current leadership. He alleged that illegal immigration was rampant during the Congress regime, but the party failed to address it. This neglect, he argued, has led to the proliferation of villages in districts like Tengnoupal and Churachandpur, causing alarm among the indigenous people of Manipur.
Shimray expressed support for the state government’s decision to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur. He clarified that the party’s stance is not against any specific community but against those immigrants who arrived in the state after 1961. “They should be treated as illegal and categorized separately from the state’s citizens. Otherwise, we risk a demographic imbalance, which we are already experiencing,” Shimray added.
Meanwhile, BJP Manipur spokesperson MK Preshow Shimray criticised the recent circulation of a doctored audio clip allegedly involving Chief Minister Biren Singh. He accused the Opposition Congress of using propaganda to blame the chief minister for the current crisis. Preshow argued that the unrest was the result of long-term plans by illegal immigrants to occupy indigenous lands, and when the state government attempted to stop these activities, the situation escalated.
Preshow also expressed confidence in Chief Minister Biren Singh’s leadership and praised the central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for handling the situation tactfully and preventing further violence. “We, the people of Manipur, especially the Ukhrul BJP karyakartas, fully support the actions taken by the government of Manipur and the Government of India in tackling the situation. We hope and appeal to the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony among all communities,” Preshow said.
The meeting in Ukhrul was attended by around 100 BJP members, including state and district executives, as well as representatives from Ukhrul, Chingai, and Phungyar. Former MLA candidate Somatai Shaiza also participated in the meeting, where discussions focused on rebuilding and strengthening the party at the district, mandal, and grassroots levels.
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