Security, rehabilitation top agenda of meeting chaired by Amit Shah

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 3 :  Will Manipur witness another extension of President’s Rule, or will it finally see the installation of a popular Government?
This question has gained prominence after a high level meeting on the Mani-pur crisis was held in New Delhi yesterday.
The meeting which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and participated by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh lasted two hours and a half.
Notably, the Governor, Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, and DGP held a high-level meeting on the Manipur crisis on December 30, ahead of their visit to New Delhi.
On the same day (December 30), the Chief Secretary issued a press release stating that nearly 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) had been rehabilitated and returned to their native places.
The Centre had imposed the President’s Rule in Manipur on February 13 last year after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on February 9, thereby putting the State Assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, under suspended animation.
Although no official statement has been released regarding the meeting held in New Delhi on January 2, 2026, a well-placed source, on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the Centre is also considering the possibility of extending PR, in addition to discussing the prevailing situation in Manipur.
The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, reportedly focused on the ongoing security situation in Manipur and the measures being taken to rehabilitate IDPs.
In the coming weeks, more clarity is expected to emerge regarding the direction the Centre will take.
Meanwhile, there has been mixed reaction regarding the imposition of PR in Manipur.
The imposition of PR was seen as a temporary measure to stabilize the State and restore peace. However, nearly a year later, questions are being raised whether the State should continue under Central governance or if the time has come for the State to have its own elected Government.
At the same time, there is pressure from the Opposition party to hold elections and take a fresh mandate.
The next State Assembly elections are due in 2027 but several politicians and civil society organizations have been vocal about the need for an elected Government to address the issues plaguing the State since May 3, 2023.
As the political future of Manipur hangs in the balance, many argue that a popular Government would be better suited to build confidence among the people and restore normalcy in the State.
There, however, are also people who  believe  that the situation in Manipur  has been improving and limping back to normalcy after the imposition of PR.
Whether the Centre will extend PR or install a popular Government remains to be seen.  However, there has been no progress in facilitating free movement across the State, with the Meitei community still cut off from the National highways, and the Kukis not returning to the valley districts.
On December 14, the BJP high command convened a meeting in New Delhi with party MLAs from all communities, including Meiteis and Kukis.
The meeting co-chaired by BJP National general secretary (Organization) BL Santosh and North East coordinator Sambit Patra  emphasised the importance of cooperation among party MLAs to ensure free and safe movement of people across the hills and valleys of Manipur.
While the meeting did not specifically address the formation of a popular Government, the BJP high command signalled its willingness to take steps toward that direction once free and safe movement is fully restored throughout the State.
A total of 34 out of the 37 BJP MLAs attended the meeting, with three Kuki BJP MLAs viz Letpao Haokip (Tengnoupal), Paolienlal Haokip (Saikot), and Vungzagin Valte (Thanlon) absent.