Too little, too late: Congress on Biren’s resignation

The Congress on Sunday said the resignation by Biren Singh from the post of Chief Minister of Manipur was “belated” and accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of allowing Singh to continue as the Chief Minister despite his “divisive” policies.“The resignation of BJP’s Manipur CM is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X.Accusing the BJP of “igniting fire” in Manipur and leaving people across communities to fend for themselves, Kharge said the Prime Minister was primarily responsible for the situation in Manipur, where 258 people died in ethnic violence and thousands of displaced people continued to live in relief camps.“Modi ji has not stepped on Manipur’s soil since his last election campaign in January 2022, although he had time to visit several foreign countries in between,” Kharge wrote on X.Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said restoring peace and healing the wounds of people in Manipur was the topmost priority.The mounting public pressure, ongoing investigation by the Supreme Court against Biren Singh’s role in the ethnic violence and the no-confidence motion proposed to be moved by the Congress in the Assembly session starting tomorrow prompted Biren Singh to resign from the post of Chief Minister, Gandhi claimed.Despite Biren Singh’s divisive policies, the Prime Minister allowed him to continue as CM even though violence and loss of life continued to take place in the state, Gandhi wrote on X.Reiterating his demand, the LoP said the PM must go to Manipur immediately, listen to the affected people and explain his plan to them regarding restoration of peace in the state.Modi has not visited Manipur ever since ethnic violence broke out there between the Kukis and the Meiteis in May 2023. He kept away from the state even during the Lok Sabha elections when he campaigned in the neighbouring Nagaland.Quit for state’s integrity: BJPMeanwhile, the BJP took a position that N Biren Singh had resigned to safeguard the territorial integrity of the state."N Biren Singh has been leading the development of the state since 2017. He undertook various development activities and then some unfortunate violence happened. He has today resigned for the sake of integrity of the state," A Sarada Devi, Manipur BJP chief, said after Biren Singh, accompanied by top ministers of the state, went to Governor AK Bhalla to submit his resignation.Sarada Devi's signal was to Biren Singh's consistent refusal for the tribal Kuki Zo community's demand for a separate administration for its member tribes. The Kuki Zo Forum has been seeking a separate region for the tribals saying that was the only way they would be able to lead a life free of discrimination and subjugation at the hands of majority Meiteis.Biren Singh, in his resignation letter, has requested the Centre to carry forward what he described as developmental works in the state.The first demand he made of the Centre was to "maintain territorial integrity of Manipur."Importantly, the resignation followed Singh's meetings in Delhi with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda. After the meetings, BJP North-East incharge Sambit Patra accompanied the CM to Imphal where the final resignation was tendered.

Too little, too late: Congress on Biren’s resignation

PM Modi primarily responsible for situation in Manipur: Kharge

Tribune News Service

Too little, too late: Congress on Biren’s resignation

PM Modi primarily responsible for situation in Manipur: Kharge

Tribune News Service

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