IMPHAL, March 1: Manipur Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh has welcomed the decisions taken during a high-level security review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, which focused on the ongoing crisis in the state.

Singh expressed appreciation for the decision to ensure the free movement of people on all roads from March 8, calling it a much-needed step to restore normalcy in Manipur. However, he questioned why such measures were not implemented earlier when the BJP-led government was in power in the state.

“The meeting chaired by HM Amit Shah and the outcomes are a welcome step. The free movement should be open from March 8, and there is no doubt that this is a positive decision. But why was this not done earlier when there was a BJP government?” Singh remarked, raising concerns about the delayed actions in addressing the ongoing challenges.

Singh also voiced his support for the border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, describing it as a long-standing demand of the people of Manipur. The Congress leader echoed the importance of this measure, which aims to curb cross-border issues and enhance security.

The meeting, which was the first of its kind since the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, focused on a series of directives to restore stability in the violence-hit state. Key outcomes from the meeting included the emphasis on ensuring free movement of the public across the state starting from March 8, taking strict action against those obstructing roads, expediting border fencing, and dismantling drug networks to create a drug-free environment in Manipur.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the meeting, where he directed security forces to ensure unrestricted movement of people across Manipur and to address the roadblock situation that had further exacerbated the crisis. Shah also emphasized cracking down on extortion activities and accelerating border fencing at designated entry points along the international border.