‘Wrote Letter Seeking Permission…’: Mamata Says Her Request to Visit Manipur Sparked Shah’s Trip

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she has written to the Center seeking permission to meet the peace-loving people of Manipur.

Addressing a press conference in Howrah, the TMC supremo said that his letter requesting permission to travel prompted Union Home Minister Amit Shah to visit the violence-hit area.

“I had also written a letter seeking permission to visit Manipur and talk to the peace-loving people of Manipur. Since I had written a letter, he (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) did it. Despite visiting Manipur, he is not talking to the people of the state.”

He said, ‘I have been saying for many days that he should visit Manipur. So many people were killed, the country should be told how many people were killed in the state and what is the situation in Manipur.”

Officials have said that Banerjee is closely monitoring the situation in Manipur. Last week, Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to replicate a “Manipur-like struggle” in West Bengal. His statements reflect his concerns regarding possible attempts to incite similar unrest in his own state.

Meanwhile, as per the latest information, Shah is hosting an all-party meeting at Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence in Imphal as part of his efforts to engage with various stakeholders and find a solution to the conflict.

The Union Home Minister visited Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst riots in the recent ethnic conflict in Manipur earlier this month, to hold talks with Kuki civil society leaders.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by the IB chief and Home Secretary, arrived in Manipur via helicopter to address the ongoing conflicts between the Meiteis and the Kukis. His agenda includes meeting church leaders and intellectuals from the Kuki community to inquire about their grievances and work towards establishing peace in the northeastern state.

In a significant development, the government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victims who lost their lives during the ethnic clashes in Manipur. In addition, a job will be provided to one family member of those affected by the violence. The financial burden of compensation will be shared equally between the central and state governments, as confirmed by the officials.

There was a meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Singh late on Monday night, after which these decisions were taken.