Violence can't achieve anything, says Manipur BJP leader and MoS Rajkumar

New Delhi 

Urging people to remember the historical legacy of amity and stay calm and in peace in view of the deteriorating situation in Manipur, BJP leader and Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Saturday said "violence cannot achieve anything".

He said people should be self restrained about sharing social media postings often based on "false propaganda" and should desist from sharing them.

"I would like to appeal to the people of Manipur......to remain in peace and should

calm down." he told reporters here.

'Nagaland Page'

"As you know Manipur historically is a land of 34 ethnic communities and historically all have shared 

the value of co-existence as a state of Manipur and the culture of Manipur and the photographic

landscape of Manipur have been well protected by all the communities," he said.

Answering questions the Minister declined to share his opinion on the Meitei demand for ST

status and the row triggered over tribal population's opposition to it. "This is not the time

to share my view...," he told a press conference.

The Minister welcomed the decision of the National Testing Agency as it has been decided

that the NEET (Under Graduate) exam of 2023 "has been postponed for the candidates who were

allotted examination centres in the state of Manipur and their exams will be held on a later date".

In a letter to the Testing Agency, Union Minister Singh had earlier requested for rescheduling the exams

as the "current situation in Manipur is not stable with the provisions of Article 355 of the Indian Constitution

being invoked since May 3, 2023".

  

Meanwhile sources said the situation in violence-hit Manipur has improved on Saturday, May 6, after the 

intervention of central security forces. 

The central forces including Rapid Action Force (RAF), BSF, and CRPF had been deployed in Manipur, besides several companies of Army and Assam Rifles were engaged to control the violence across the state.

Central Reserve Police Force chief Kuldeep Singh and Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence) 

Ashutosh Sinha have been given the charge to command the ongoing operations against miscreants and

militants, a source said quoting local police officials in Imphal.

Immediate and timely response by the Army, Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces brings Churachandpur, KPI, Moreh and Kakching under firm control with no major violence reported since May 4 night, sources said.

The Union Minister also claimed that "some of the communities" are helping to solve the problem and help the suffering people. He urged all others to join them. "The overall situation is improving now and this is good," he said in response to a question. 

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