As expectations grow that the crisis-stricken Manipur chief minister will be replaced, N. Biren Singh has stated that the option is out of his reach. Thus, during an interview with NDTV, the Chief Minister said he pays much attention to the complicated issues concerning the state.
Speculations about a leadership change have been circulating for some time now, given that both the BJP and its ally, the Naga People’s Front (NPF), blanked on both parliamentary seats in the recently held Polls. The Congress candidates were able to snatch the said seats from the ruling coalition.
Admitting the latest public fury over his management of the crisis, Chief Minister Singh framed the Lok Sabha mandate in the state’s current situation. “BJP’s vote percentage is not low. What was expected was received. This time, received more votes than last time but defeated due to the existing condition,” he said.
The ethnic clash between the Meiteis and Kuki began on May 3, the previous year, and it has resulted in more than 200 people killed and about 50,000 populating evicted. Presently, the Kuki groups are pushing for a separate Union Territory, which Mr. Singh dismissed by saying that the disturbance is being contained only in 2-3 districts. Further, “Manipur is 2000 years old and is now a state in India and the demand cannot happen.”
The Chief Minister also added that the new government in the center, led by Narendra Modi, has identified the Manipur issue as a priority. The stand on Manipur has also been debated in the Parliament and has been raised sharply by the INDIA alliance, which now has 232 members in the lower house of the parliament, the Lok Sabha.
However, the hurdles continue. Chief Minister Singh does not have any doubt about his stand on the multifaceted problems of Manipur’s future. On this, he agreed with the people but noted that they should trust him as he will be able to manage the situation and get things back to normal in the state.
