Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 30: The Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, under fire over his handling of ethnic violence in the state for almost two months, tore of his resignation “under public pressure” after a morning of speculation that his government would quit.
His close aides said he was on the verge of resigning on Friday but changed his mind under public pressure. A senior minister claimed that Biren Singh had started out for the Governor’s House but turned around after a huge show of support outside his Imphal residence.
Singh had planned to meet the Governor during the day, fuelling speculation that he could step down. Around 2:20, he along with a delegation of around 20 MLAs moved out of his residence to head towards the Governor’s residence, but were met with the crowds outside, and had to head back. After some time, a few ministers led by the PWD Minister came out to address the gathering, with Minister Susindro Meitei reading out the resignation letter which was supposed to be submitted to the Governor. After this, the paper was handed over to some of the gathered women, who tore it.
“After we came back to the CM’s residence, we requested him to reconsider the resignation given the people’s will. After convincing the CM, a few ministers went outside to tell the people that he had agreed not to resign,” said government spokesperson and minister Sapam Ranjan Singh. “The Chief Minister was simply not allowed to leave the residence and move towards Raj Bhavan,” claimed a close aide.
This was even after nine BJP MLAs from Manipur had reportedly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the month, saying that the people in the State have lost faith in Singh’s government.
Hundreds of women gathered near Singh’s residence and formed a human chain, saying that they do not want him to resign. A copy of his resignation letter was torn up when two ministers came out of his residence with it.
Meanwhile, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who is also in the north-eastern state on a two-day visit, met ‘like-minded’ party leaders, United Naga Council (UNC) leaders, and members of civil society organisations in his Imphal hotel, Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra said.
When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on Manipur by reporters, Rahul Gandhi said he would not comment on political issues here. “I have not come here to make any political comment. I will not comment here on these issues. I only want peace to return here at the earliest,” he said.
Gandhi said he was left heartbroken when he met with people affected due to violence in Manipur. In his latest Instagram post, the former Congress MP said, “It’s heart-breaking to see and listen to the plight of those who have lost loved ones and homes due to the violence in Manipur. There is a cry for help in the face of every brother, sister and child I meet.”
Appealing for peace in the conflict-hit state, Rahul Gandhi added, “The most important thing Manipur needs now is Peace – to secure the lives and livelihoods of our people. All our efforts must unite towards that goal.”
Three people, including a police constable, were killed in the last two days after fresh violence erupted in the state. The Indian Army had reported a clash in the tense Kangpokpi district saying that armed rioters opened fire in the village of Haraothel. In response, the army said, it mobilised troops stationed nearby to prevent the situation from escalating.
According to an army statement, “unconfirmed reports” indicated some casualties after the clash including Head Constable Lenglam Dimngel who was shot dead when the armed mob attacked. According to the Manipur Police, 17 arms, 12 ammunition and 10 bombs were recovered from various parts of the state over the last 24 hours. On Wednesday, eight arms, two ammunitions and two bombs were recovered from Kakching district by the joint team.
Armed rioters had opened unprovoked firing at Haraothel village on Thursday. The Army said security forces personnel “responded in a calibrated manner” to tackle the situation, they said. Members of the community to which two of the rioters belonged collected their bodies on Thursday and took out a procession to the CM’s residence in Imphal, they said.
The demonstrators, led by women, even dared police to arrest them, and were also seen burning tyres in the middle of the road to prevent police movement, the officials said. As security personnel stopped them from marching to Singh’s residence, the processionists turned violent, prompting police to use tear gas shells and resort to lathicharge to disperse the mob.
The Governor Anusuiya Uikey, on her recent visit to Delhi, had a lengthy discussion with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. It is understood that the governor submitted a report of happenings in Manipur pertaining to the communal clashes in the state, which have claimed more than 200 lives so far.