The imposition of President's Rule in Manipur was imminent, say several citizens in the violence-hitstate as the news of the central government's decision went like wildfire on Thursday evening.
Most office goers had returned home and even middle-class normal marketing at the state capital Imphal was over when the news of "final ouster" of the beleaguered Chief Minister N Biren Singh reached them.
After Feb 9th when the Chief Minister had resigned, many complained that why he was still being allowed to continue in office in the "care-taker capacity". Hence on Thursday, Feb 13th as the proclamation of Presidential Rule under Article 356 was announced, local residents in Imphal and Churachandpur heaved a sign of relief.
One Kuki Youth Front leader in Churachandpur said -- "Biren Singh's 'final ouster' as the Chief Minister from the position of power and authority is welcome, but he should face trial in a legal court or the people's court for failure in administration".
However, he said Kuki people's demand for a 'separate administration' remains unchanged. "It is people's demand and not a separatist movement," he remarked expressing great relief that a Chief Minister who failed to deliver and "protect" his citizens have to finally bow out of office.
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| Kuki relief camp Churachandpur |
Another angry reaction over phone was : "Removal of the chief minister or mere resignation does not suffice the brutality meted to people... he must face the law for his failed governance.
Let justice prevail....But in order to ensure that the justice prevails, people who are responsible what all went in the state in 2023 and 2024 should face the court".
But at the same time the person hastened to add that .. "In the north east, President's Rule is also unpredictable time... we do not know who will be picked up... So please do not name me in your report".
Some citizens in Imphal said -- " We knew President's Rule was coming as there is no law in the state ... more than 6000 arms were looted in Imphal valley and also hills.
"If the government was sincere and if it had the will.... the problems could have been subsided in the first week of the violence in May 2023 itself," said the educationist.
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My visit to Imphal and other places in Manipur coincided with the Republic Day season or just a few days in the run up to the R-Day celebration. As expected there was a simmering tension.
Amidst such situations Imphal market functioned normally in the evening hours. I met two women entrepreneurs in the busy market. One of them dealt with artificial ornaments. On the wrong side of 70, the senior citizen expressed unhappiness with the state of affairs.
But what she had said was politically significant. "Both the parties the Congress and the BJP have failed.... I am old communist, I support CPI. My party should work harder in Manipur," remarked Meima Laisram.
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| Madam Meima Laisram and blogger: Jan 17, 2024 |
Another woman I met - Nirmala Devi too was not happy with the BJP governments both at the centre and in the state.
Her refrain was "If Biren Singh was a failure and could not stop this continuous spree of violence why Home Minister Amit Shah and the central government are allowing Biren to continue in office".
However, she said other issues raised by the Chief Minister too were valid -- "It is true foreign immigrants from Myanmar have been coming and the Kuki population has increased manifold.
Poppy cultivation and Biren Singh's war was another factor...".
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| Nirmala Devi |
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| Jan 17th evening Imphal |
Biren Singh's resignation and finally imposition of President's Rule actually make a big statement by itself.
In 2023 during the No Confidence Motion debate in Lok Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah had categorically said that the Chief Minister will not be removed as he has been cooperating with the centre on trying to make efforts to brings things under control.
However, the appointment of new Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, also a former Home Secretary, made it clear that Chief Minister Biren Singh could find going 'tougher' than he had previously.
As Chief Minister and blessed with high command's blessings Biren Singh had tried to emerge as a champion of the Meitei-cause. His plans have boomeranged.
After Congress veteran Okram Ibobi Singh was voted out of office in 2017, many thought Biren will inherit that position.
For sometime it appeared, Biren was able to do so. In fact, in 2019 - after the discussions on Naga issue had ended; he had taken a Meitei delegation to Amit Shah and insisted that nothing should be done to influence the geographical or territorial boundaries of Manipur state.
Shah did not fail to respond to the delegation's plea. But after 2023 violence continued unabated, finally the Centre had to react rather firmly.
"Biren Singh has/had a bad habit or he is too frank... he started blaming Meiteis - his own people - for demanding ST status for triggering the violence and some time he would blame the foreign immigrants.
All these were to cover his own failure and these have combined together to write his political obit at least for the time being," said a local analyst in Imphal.
ends
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