Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with his MLAs and Ministers from the ruling BJP met Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Sunday for the second time in two consecutive days, seeking the control of the Unified Command and abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Kuki militant groups.

Before today’s meeting, Chief Minister Singh along with ruling MLAs met the Governor on Saturday evening too and briefed him about the fresh violence in the state that took six lives in Jiribam district.

According to reports, the Sunday meeting, which took place for hours, was a follow-up meeting between the CM and the Governor, which lasted over 30 minutes on Saturday night at Raj Bhawan, in Imphal.

Today’s meeting, according to the report, regarding the demand for adequate powers and responsibilities to the elected state government as per the Constitution by handing over Unified Command, which brings Central and State forces and local administration together to ensure the maintenance of law and order in the state.

The Unified Command was formed by the Centre in May 2023, with Kuldiep Singh, former Director General of CRPF, taking its Command in order to control the ethnic conflict in the state.

The list of demands includes another crucial request to abolish the Suspension of Operations agreement between the government and Kuki insurgent groups, allowing the security forces to take decisive action.

Earlier this year, an all-party meeting in Manipur urged both the Centre and the state government to annul the agreement, enabling security forces to launch comprehensive operations against the Kuki insurgents.

During the meeting, which was presided over by the Chief Minister, Opposition MLAs raised concerns about why the Centre and the state government had not disclosed the imposition of Article 355 of the Constitution in Manipur.

Article 355 obligates the Union to safeguard every state against external aggression and internal disturbance, and its invocation indicates that the state is perilously close to being placed under President’s rule.

The Chief Minister’s advocacy for the Unified Command Authority is perceived as an attempt to consolidate authority and streamline decision-making within the state’s security structure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the building collapse at Transport Nagar in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on Saturday evening.

According to officials, the incident, which involved a three-storeyed medical warehouse collapsing, resulted in the deaths of eight people and left 28 others injured. The injured people were admitted to three hospitals in the Krishna Nagar area, with some already discharged.

PM Modi expressed his grief over the loss of lives due to the building collapse and also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured people.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “The loss of lives due to a building mishap in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is saddening. Prayers with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”  

“An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” he added.

Lucknow’s Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Amit Verma, announced that a committee will be formed to investigate the building collapse.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Verma said a committee will investigate the reasons behind the collapse. Structural engineers and experts will provide insights into the cause, he added.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against Rakesh Singhal, the owner of the Harmilap Building in the incident.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also directed officials to expedite relief efforts. He had also asked officials to promptly transport the injured to the hospital for proper treatment. CM Yogi has also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Additional Director General of Law and Order Amitabh Yash said that CM Yogi is continuously reviewing the situation and the relief and rescue operations.

The Chief Minister paid his condolences to the people who lost their lives in the incident.

Taking to X, he said the loss of life due to the collapse of a building in Lucknow district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. “My condolences are with the grieving families of the deceased,” he added.

He said instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing and provide proper treatment to the injured. “I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed souls in his feet and provide speedy recovery to the injured,” CM added.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday arrived in the US on a three-day visit during which he will hold meaningful discussions and insightful conversations to further strengthen the bond between India and America.

In a social media post on X, the Congress party said that Gandhi received a warm and enthusiastic welcome at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

“I am truly delighted by the warm welcome I’ve received in Dallas, Texas, USA, from the Indian Diaspora and members of the Indian Overseas Congress,” Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a Facebook post.

Sharing pictures of his arrival, Gandhi said: “I eagerly look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions and insightful conversations that will further strengthen the bond between our two nations during this visit.”

Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda said last week that the Opposition leader is not coming to the US in his official capacity but will have a chance to interact with a variety of people on Capitol Hill at an individual level.

Gandhi will have interactions with the press at the National Press Club, he will meet with the think tank people and will also have interaction at Georgetown University which is equally important in Washington DC, Pitroda said of Gandhi’s first visit to the US since assuming the mantle of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

During his visit from September 8-10, the Congress leader would hold numerous interactions in Washington DC and Dallas, including at the University of Georgetown and the University of Texas.