Opposition in India demands dismissal of Manipur chief minister due to ongoing violence

NEW DELHI

The Indian opposition is demanding the removal of incumbent Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh, while ruling lawmakers are demanding a review of the recent reintroduction of a controversial law amid ongoing violence in the conflict-ridden northeastern state that has left dozens dead.

Keisham Meghachandra Singh, the main opposition Congress party’s district chief in Manipur, told Anadolu that the current situation remains “in a state of turmoil”.

“It is a terrible tragedy that we are facing right now,” he said.

Manipur has been witnessing renewed violence in the last few weeks following ethnic clashes that left at least 180 people dead in the state last year.

In fresh violence, a protester was killed by gunfire during a clash with security forces in the state’s Jiribam district.

There are clashes between the majority Meitei members and Kuki tribal communities in the state.

Meiteis are mostly Hindu and dominate the state’s population; Kukis, on the other hand, are mostly Christian and are among the most socio-economically disadvantaged groups in India.

“Law and order has completely collapsed. “People don’t feel safe,” Singh said, adding that people are “not satisfied and satisfied with the measures taken by the government.”

He said the need of the moment was to “replace” the current Prime Minister Biren Singh.

“People here say PM Modi should visit Manipur. He can solve half the problems,” he said.

The Modi government has sent another 5,000 paramilitary personnel to the state.

However, senior Congress politician and former Home Minister P. Chidambaram said such a move was “not a solution to the Manipur crisis”.

He also called for the “immediate” removal of Prime Minister Singh to end the crisis.

The Congress also wrote to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, asking him to intervene to “protect the lives and property of our citizens in Manipur”.

ongoing violence

The fresh violence broke out after a woman from the Kuki community was burned to death in the Jiribam district of the state earlier this month.

Days later, at least 10 suspected militants from the Kuki community were killed in gunfights with security forces in the Jiribam area. Later, the authorities declared a curfew in the district.

Later, six people from the Meitei community disappeared.

The bodies of some of the missing people were found floating in the river over the weekend, sparking new protests.

Last week, Manipur police said “angry mobs” targeted various houses and properties of public representatives, including ministers and legislators, in the capital Imphal.

Approximately 23 people who “looted and arsoned houses” were arrested, police wrote to X.

Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh said late on Monday night that “justice will be ensured and strict action will be taken against the perpetrators”.

After a meeting with ruling legislators, he wrote about X: “Important decisions regarding AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) and strengthening of law and order were also taken to ensure peace and stability in the state.”

The Modi government last week expanded the jurisdiction of AFSPA to more districts in the state, giving unlimited powers to the armed forces.

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