TN CM writes to Manipur counterpart seeking concurrence to send humanitarian aid

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has written to his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh on sending aid including medicines to the violencehit northeastern stateThe Tamil Nadu government has asked Manipur to provide its concurrence to send the aid material to those living in relief campsStalin told the Manipur chief minister in a letter dated July 31 that he has been informed that more than 50000 people were staying in relief camps due to the prevailing situation in the northeastern state apparently referring to the violence therethere is an increasing need for some essential items for the affected people At this crucial time the Government of Tamil Nadu is willing to extend support to your State by providing necessary relief materials like tarpaulin sheets bedsheets mosquito nets essential medicines sanitary napkins and milk powder worth around Rs 10 crore Stalin saidThis assistance will be very useful to the people staying in camps and they can also be airlifted if required he saidI would request you to kindly give your governments concurrence for this humanitarian aid Also kindly inform us about the further action to be taken in this regard so that my officers can coordinate with your officers and send the relief materials at the earliest the Chief Minister addedStalin had earlier offered to provide training facilities for Manipur sportspersons in Tamil Nadu in the wake of ethnic violence thereMore than 160 people have lost their lives and several hundreds injured since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe ST statusMeiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districtsMeanwhile Communist Party of India CPI national general secretary Atul Kumar Anjaan has alleged that the Manipur ethnic strife was part of a wellplanned strategy of the BJP reported PTI The saffron party while dismissing the allegation said the Left must look in its own backyard of Kerala where political murders are taking place before preaching democracy to others Anjaan who was in Ranchi to attend the state executive meeting of the party told reporters While Manipur was burning BJP leaders were busy seeking votes in KarnatakaWith PTI inputs