NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned due to mounting pressure from the public, Supreme Court, and the Congress. He accused Singh of “instigating” division in the state and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “allowing him to continue” despite ongoing violence.
‘PM allowed Biren Singh to continue despite bloodshed’
“For nearly two years, BJP’s CM Biren Singh instigated division in Manipur. PM Modi allowed him to continue despite the violence, loss of life, and the destruction of the idea of India in Manipur,” Gandhi wrote on X.
He further claimed that Singh’s resignation was a direct result of “mounting public pressure, the SC investigation, and the no-confidence motion by the Congress.”
Calls for PM Modi to visit Manipur
Gandhi also urged Modi to visit the conflict-hit state. “But the most urgent priority is to restore peace in the state, and work to heal the wounds of the people of Manipur. PM Modi must visit Manipur at once, listen to the people, and finally explain his plan to bring back normalcy,” he said.
Biren Singh’s resignation amid political turmoil
Manipur CM Biren Singh tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhawan, nearly two years after ethnic violence erupted in the state. He was accompanied by BJP president A Sharda, BJP’s North East Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra, and at least 19 MLAs.
In his resignation letter, Singh stated, “It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur so far.” He expressed gratitude to the central government for its “timely actions, interventions, developmental work, and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interest of every single Manipuri.”
Ethnic violence and political fallout
The violence between the Meitei and the Kuki communities in Manipur began after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, 2023, following a Manipur High Court order directing the state to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list. The unrest led to significant casualties and displacement, fueling political tensions in the state.
