Mugdha Das

Ex-Manipur CM N Biren Singh raises refugee issue

Digital Desk: Former Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has raised concerns over the state’s historical role in accommodating refugees.

N Biren Singh questioned whether Manipur has been treated as a dumping ground for displaced populations since its inception.

Singh expressed his frustration over what he described as a long-standing and largely unaddressed concern.

He pointed to official records that indicate large-scale refugee settlements in Manipur dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Taking to social media, the former Manipur chief minister shared a document that claimed that over 1500 families had already been settled in Manipur prior to 1973.

N. Biren Singh claimed that there were letters from government officials, MPs and refugee organizations as evidence of a sustained influx of refugees into Manipur over the decades.

One such document, a letter from former Manipur MP Paokai Haokip to KC Pant in 1973, the then minister of state for home affairs, acknowledged the presence of refugee families in the state as early as 1967.

N. Biren Singh stated that this was not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of migration that has influenced the demographic makeup of Manipur over time.

Singh questioned the measures taken to regulate and integrate these refugees, raising concerns about their legal status and their inclusion in electoral rolls.

The former Manipur chief minister also expressed disappointment over the resistance faced by those who attempt to address the issue, stating that any discussion on the topic is often met with criticism and accusations.

Singh said that there is a need for an open dialogue on the issue to understand its implications and formulate a balanced approach moving forward.