'Is govt trying to turn Manipur into Kashmir...sack Biren, bring Prez rule'

NT Bureau, Agencies

New Delhi: An all-party meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday had a detailed discussion on the situation in Manipur during which several opposition parties sought an allparty delegation visit to the northeastern state but the government remained noncommittal, PTI sources said.

While the Congress demanded immediate sacking of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the Samajwadi Party and a few others sought imposition of President’s rule in the state that has witnessed sporadic violence in since May 3.

However, the government asserted it was doing its best to bring back normalcy there, sources said. The Trinamool Congress demanded an all-party delegation be sent to the violence-hit state within a week as it questioned the government’s handling of the situation, wondering if the government was “trying to turn Manipur into Kashmir”.

Nearly 120 people have lost their lives and over 3,000 are injured since the ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3. Home Minister Amit Shah said all efforts are being made to restore peace in Manipur on instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP’s Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra told reporters after the meeting.