Assam Chief Minister and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Convenor Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that his visit is focussed on restoration of peace in Manipur and hoped that peace will not only come but permanently stays in Manipur.

Sarma was on a day long visit to the state.

After landing in Imphal, capital of the strife-torn Manipur, Sarma headed straight to the Manipur Secretariat for a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

His visit comes almost two weeks after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state to take stock of the situation and amid continued incidents of violence and killings in some parts of the state.

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Briefing media persons before his departure to Guwahati, Sarma stated that he was feeling guilty of not visiting the state during the last one month. My visit is a goodwill visit and nothing more, he said.

“I should have come a little earlier because the incident happened, and Union Home Minister came. I was feeling guilty that I had not visited during the last one month,” the Assam CM had said.

Earlier, Sarma met three Naga MLAs led by Minister Awangbou Newmai, executives of state unit BJP including party president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi.

He also held meetings with representatives of various civil society organisations including Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) and Forum for Restoration of Peace.

Prior to his departure to Guwahati, Sarma also met BJP MLAs and Ministers including Dr Sapam Ranjan, Th. Basanta Kumar, Heikham Dingo, L Susindro.