Addressing the 73rd North Eastern Council (NEC) plenary session in Shillong, Manipur CMY Khemchand Singh said the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar has triggered
a significant influx of people into Manipur's border districts, creating multifaceted challenges for the state.
"This is not 1962, this is New India," Arunachal CM on border watch at NEC meet
Pema Khandu says Arunachal historically bordered Tibet, dismissing Beijing's repeated claims over the strategically important state
China normally does not figure in North Eastern Council meet.
But in circa, it's different.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, on Thursday, asserted that the state does not historically share a border with China but with "Tibet-China", while maintaining that the state remains secure and well-prepared along the international frontier.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 73rd North Eastern Council (NEC) plenary session in Shillong, Khandu said the historical context of the border should not be overlooked. “We don’t share a border with China, but with Tibet-China. Originally, we shared a border only with Tibet,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister also dismissed concerns regarding border preparedness, emphasising that the situation today bears little resemblance to that of the 1962 Indo-China war.
“Infrastructure-wise, this is not 1962; this is 2026. This is the new India,” Khandu said.
Manipur CM flags border influx, seeks faster Indo-Myanmar fencing at NEC meet
Myanmar's continuing unrest has strained resources, altered demographics and complicated governance across the state's border districts, he says even as the violence-hit state faces multiple and complex problems vis-a-vis ethnic clashes and kidnapping involving Kukis, Nagas and Meiteis.
CM Yumnam Khemchand urged the Centre (the session chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah) to expedite the construction of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, describing the situation along the frontier as one of the most pressing security and humanitarian challenges confronting the region.
“The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar has caused a large influx of persons into our border districts, placing enormous pressure on local resources, altering the demographic balance, and creating serious administrative and law enforcement challenges,” he said.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns over the misuse of the porous international border by transnational criminal networks.
The border has been exploited by drug traffickers, arms smugglers supplying weapons to non-state actors, and groups involved in human trafficking and other illegal activities, Singh said.
Welcoming the Ministry of Home Affairs' initiative to construct a fence along the Indo-Myanmar border, he termed the project a long-awaited and critical step toward strengthening border security.
“This is an essential, long-overdue measure, and I urge that the fencing be completed on priority, covering the entire Manipur-Myanmar border,” he told the gathering.
He further called for enhanced focus on the Indo-Myanmar frontier through a combination of security measures and development initiatives.
These include regulated border crossings, modern surveillance infrastructure, additional border outposts, improved road connectivity and targeted border area development programmes.
“Such a regularised border regime is essential to ensure security and stability along our frontier,” he said.
Referring to the situation within Manipur, Singh said his government inherited a difficult environment when it assumed office earlier this year and has since been working to restore normalcy, rebuild trust among communities and promote reconciliation.
He highlighted his visits to relief camps in Jiribam and Imphal, where he interacted with displaced families and community leaders.
“Jiribam has given us hope. It is the first district in Manipur where Meitei, Kuki, Paite and Hmar communities have come together on a common peace platform. This is the model we seek to replicate across the state,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment