A delegation of four legislators from Manipur met with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan on 11th August (Monday) to discuss pressing concerns related to the India-Myanmar border. The meeting focused on the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the ongoing border fencing, with the MLAs requesting the Governor’s intervention for an “amicable resolution.”
The delegation included Naga People’s Front (NPF) MLAs Awangbou Newmai, Khashim Vashum, and Leishiyo Keishing, along with independent MLA J. Kumo Sha. They expressed strong opposition to the central government’s decision to scrap the FMR, which has been a point of contention for various groups in the Northeast.
The FMR is a long-standing arrangement that allows people from tribes living along the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border to travel up to 16 kilometres into the other country without a visa. This policy is particularly important for communities, such as the Nagas, who have strong ethnic and familial ties on both sides of the border.
The decision to scrap the FMR and accelerate border fencing has been met with resistance from various organisations in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, who argue that it disrupts the historical and cultural links of the local people. They also believe that the fencing is dividing ancestral lands and will have a negative impact on the livelihoods of border communities.
The MLAs have requested the Governor to take appropriate steps to facilitate a dialogue with the Centre, emphasising the need to prioritise the interests of the affected local population and maintain harmony in the border regions. The Governor’s office confirmed that he acknowledged the grievances and assured the delegation that the matter would be looked into.
