IT News
Imphal, July 28:
Uncertainty remains over whether Chief Minister N. Biren Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting or the Mukhya Mantri Parishad meeting, which concluded today. Despite social media hints of his participation, sources indicate CM Biren was not given the opportunity to speak. In contrast, Assam’s CM Hemanta Biswa Sarma, Arunachal Pradesh’s CM Pema Khandu, and Sikkim’s CM Prem Singh Tamang confirmed their participation and speeches via Twitter.
It is still unclear if the economic crisis in Manipur, driven by ongoing conflicts and the need for support for internally displaced persons (IDPs), was addressed during the meetings.
Mentioned may be made Chief Minister N. Biren Singh before leaving for the NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting had stated that he will meet the Prime Minister as times come.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the PM on X (formerly Twitter), questioning if CM Biren Singh had a one-on-one meeting with PM Modi to discuss the situation in Manipur. Ramesh’s post read:
“The Chief Minister of Manipur attends the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi presided over by the self-anointed non-biological PM. Then the Manipur CM attends a meeting of BJP CMs and Deputy CMs presided over by the same deity. The simple question that the people of Manipur are asking is this: Did Shri N. Biren Singh meet with Shri Narendra Modi separately one-on-one and discuss the situation in Manipur, which started burning on the night of May 3rd, 2023? Did Shri Biren Singh invite Shri Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, either before or after His trip to Ukraine?”
Ramesh also questioned the timing of PM Modi’s proposed Ukraine visit, expected to coincide with the war-torn country’s National Day (August 24), asking if the PM would visit Manipur before or after his trip to Ukraine.
The Congress has repeatedly criticized the PM for not visiting Manipur amidst ongoing ethnic conflicts between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The Ukraine visit, if it occurs, would be the PM’s first to the country since Russia’s attack in February 2022.
The 2-day Mukhya Mantri Parishad meeting concluded today, with PM Modi attending the session yesterday but not today. Following the late-night discussions on the first day, sessions continued without his presence on the final day.
