Biren takes credit for scrapping FMR

Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Sunday claimed that the Centre had scrapped the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar following his strong pressure.
Notably, in February 2024, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) decided to scrap the FMR between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s northeastern states bordering Myanmar.
Attending a ‘Get Together’ programme organized by BJP Heingang Mandal at Luwangsangbam in Imphal East today, the former chief minister said that while he was the chief minister for eight years, he had taken up various works for the protection of the indigenous people of the land and safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur.
He alleged that before the BJP came to power in the state, various policies and programmes which would undermine the integrity of Manipur were intentionally pushed by certain vested interest elements.
“I would like to let the people know that a secret plot to disintegrate Manipur was in place from 1950 till I became the chief minister of the state,” Singh said.
Apart from implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, he had exerted strong pressure on the Central leaders for scrapping the FMR and fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border.
There was no free movement regime between two countries in any part of the globe, he said, while hinting something behind the implementation of the FMR in the Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border.
However, under the FMR, people from both sides of India and Myanmar in the Manipur sector of the border were allowed free movement without any document and there was none to check the people crossing to the border, he said. Earlier, under FMR, a Myanmar citizen can enter 40 km inside the Indian territory without any document, likewise an Indian citizen can enter 40 km inside Myanmar territory in the same manner.
It was after the BJP came to power at the Centre and Sushma Swaraj as the Union external affairs minister, the 40 km was reduced to 16 km. The former chief minister claimed that after he became the chief minister of the state and during COVID pandemic, he had restricted the cross border movement along the Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border with the prior consent from the Union home ministry,
Before the COVID pandemic, in 2018, he came to know that people entering from Myanmar side did not return back to their country. Instead, they settled in the interior Manipur. This led to the emergence of many new villages. The illegal immigrants settling in the state came out very clear when he collected some data and when accessed through satellite mapping, he said.
Taking serious note, he went to Delhi and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tabled the data and satellite mapping before him while requesting him (Prime Minister) to protect the indigenous people of the land, Singh said.
After seeing the data and maps, the Prime Minister noted that it was a serious issue and instructed him to meet Amit Shah who was then the national president of BJP for follow up action.
During the meeting with Amit Shah, he told him (Biren Singh) to collect a copy of land law being enforced in Ahmedabad in Gujarat and see if it can be applied in Manipur, the former chief minister said.
While recalling the instances, Singh claimed that his struggle to safeguard the indigenous people of the land was not a recent one but started since he became the chief minister of the state.
After the event, Singh, in a post on his Facebook page, stressed the need to stand strong and united for the cause of Manipur and the vision of the BJP.
“It is great to see our dedicated karyakartas, local leaders, and well-wishers who have stood strong and united for the cause of Manipur and the vision of the BJP. Such gatherings remind us of the power of grassroots unity and the importance of staying connected with the people.
Together, let us continue to uphold the values of the party and work tirelessly for peace, development, and the integrity of our beloved state,” the post read.