"If There Was Border Fencing Then...": Manipur Chief Minister's Jab On 'Free Movement Regime'

Manipur has a 390 km-long border with Myanmar, of which only 10 km has been fenced so far. In July, the state said around 700 illegal immigrants crossed over.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has accused earlier union governments - specifically those led by the Congress, though he did not mention the party - of neglecting the northeastern state and its concerns over the 390-km long border with Myanmar. The Chief Minister argued that this neglect had led to the ethnic violence between the Metei and Kuki-Zo tribes in May last year, in which 175 people were killed. 

Speaking to NDTV against the backdrop of that violence - for which illegal immigrants from Myanmar were blamed - and clashes with militants in the region - the Chief Minister called on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to fence the interntional border and scrap the contentious Free Movement Regime.

"See... whatever is happening in Manipur... I am not blaming other central governments but from 1947-49 (when the state merged with India)... it is a 390-km border (with Myanmar) and communities on this side and that are the same tribe. They speak the same language... have the same culture. At that time, if there had been fencing and a pass system, there would not have been problems today."