Imphal, Kohima, August 6 (HBTV): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday clarified that the reports published in the media regarding the purported appointment of Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhawa as the interlocutor for the ongoing Manipur crisis was unfounded and merely a speculation.   

Singh made the clarification on the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly during the evening session of the 6th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Monday. Biren Singh, who is also the leader of the house, clarified that during his participation in a NITI Aayog meeting held in New Delhi on July 28, he had met with chief ministers of different states across the country.     

During the meeting, Singh had a conversation with the chief ministers including the chief minister of Mizoram, Lalduhawa; the chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio; the chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma; and others. He said they talked as friends, stating that Neiphiu Rio even asked the Manipur chief minister why he did not attend the recently celebrated Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. In this context, Biren Singh said he only invited Lalduhawa,  the newly appointed chief minister of Mizoram, to visit Manipur for just a cup of tea and nothing more. 

However, Singh said some social media handles and media outlets speculated and published wrong information. If Lalduhawa were to be appointed as the interlocutor for the Manipur Violence, it would have to be done at the level of the Union Home Minister or the Prime Minister’s Office. Singh cautioned against publishing any report without verification as it could mislead the people.   

As quoted in the national media, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhawa purportedly said that on Thursday, Biren Singh had asked him to mediate in talks with organizations representing the Kuki-Zo communities.