Amidst growing demands for the dismissal of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh due to the ongoing ethnic clashes in the state, Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Lok Sabha that Singh would retain his position as he is “cooperating with the Centre.” Shah’s statement came during a discussion on a no-confidence motion.
Shah emphasized that a change in leadership is warranted when a Chief Minister is not cooperative. However, in the case of Manipur, Shah expressed that Singh’s collaboration with the Centre makes his continuation feasible. Shah further appealed to both the Meitei and Kuki communities to refrain from violence and engage in dialogue with the government.
The recent ethnic clashes in Manipur have resulted in over 150 casualties, prompting concerns about the efficacy of the state’s leadership. Opposition leaders, including the Congress party, have criticized Singh’s performance, asserting that the people of Manipur have lost confidence in his leadership.
The opposition’s criticism intensified after the Kuki People’s Alliance withdrew its support from the N Biren Singh government. The Congress party contended that there was a growing “mistrust” between the BJP government in the state and the central BJP government.
During the Lok Sabha discussion, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed skepticism about Singh’s cooperation with the Centre, citing instances of arms being looted from police stations and the displacement of thousands of people into shelter camps. Gogoi questioned the nature of cooperation that results in such incidents and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider removing the Chief Minister on moral grounds.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted the recent filing of an FIR by Manipur Police against Assam Rifles, a move he described as a “breakdown of Constitutional machinery.” Ramesh also raised concerns about the strained relationship between the BJP government in Manipur and the central BJP government.
As the situation in Manipur continues to unfold, the debate over Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s leadership, dismissal and the response of the central government to the state’s challenges remains a focal point of discussion among political circles.
