The Centre has suspended with immediate effect the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the external affairs ministry has also started the process to scrap FMR.

Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “It is Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji’s resolve to secure our borders. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar.” 

Shah added that the ministry of external affairs will be scrapping FMR. “Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” he tweeted.

The decision comes amidst ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur. The Centre had blamed free movement with Myanmar as the cause of recurring violence in the northeastern state.

Welcoming the decision, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh tweeted, “Immensely grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble HM Shri @AmitShah Ji for their commitment to securing our borders. The decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar, as recommended by @HMOIndia, is crucial for our internal security and the demographic integrity of our North Eastern States. This is yet another historic decision in curbing illegal immigration and strengthening our internal security after the recent announcement to fence the 1643 Km Indo-Myanmar border by Government of India.”