‘CM is the cause of the crisis…’: P Chidambaram criticizes Manipur crisis center Biren Singh

Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader P Chidambaram said sending 5,000 jawans to Manipur is not the solution to the crisis in the state. He blamed Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh for the unstable situation in the northeastern state. He also reiterated the Congress’ stand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should personally visit the state to defuse the situation. Chidambaram’s remarks came after a Meitei group took to the streets on Monday and locked several government offices to protest the recent killings in Jiribam.

“Rushing in 5,000 MORE centrally armed police jawans is not the solution to the Manipur crisis. This is smarter: to accept that Chief Minister Mr. Biren Singh is the cause of the crisis and dismiss him immediately,” Chidambaram said.The Center has decided to send around 5,000 paramilitary troops to the state to deal with the situation.

“This is a more understanding approach: that Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga can live together in a single State only if they have real regional autonomy. This is more statesmanship: Hon’ble Prime Minister to give up his stubbornness, visit Manipur and speak humbly to the people of Manipur and get to know their grievances and demands first hand,” Chidambaram said.

The Congress has been demanding a visit from the prime minister to the state of Manipur. The party also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah. “As of May 3, 2023, Manipur is on fire and Prime Minister Modi has been visiting various countries of the world, giving sermons but could not find time to visit Manipur. So, our first request is for the Prime Minister to take a break before the Parliament session. Visit Manipur and visit political parties, politicians, meet civil society groups and people in relief camps there,” said Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh, who had earlier also demanded the appointment of a full-time governor in the state. He also said that the Home Minister was “directly responsible” for the situation in Manipur while demanding his resignation.

Congress and BJP offices were vandalized in the hill district of Jiribam, where an unidentified body was earlier found, leading to violence. The unrest followed incidents in which angry mobs set ablaze the houses of three BJP MPs, including a senior minister, and Congress MLAs in several areas of Imphal Valley where indefinite curfew was imposed.

Security forces prevented agitators from attacking the Manipur Chief Minister’s ancestral home on Saturday evening. Since May last year, more than 220 people have been killed and thousands displaced due to ethnic violence between the Meiteis in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the adjoining hills.

On Monday, a Meitei group defying curfew orders protested the recent killings in Jiribam. CM Singh convened an emergency meeting with ministers and MLAs of the ruling NDA to review the law and order situation, a day after the National People’s Party (NPP) further complicated the political environment by withdrawing support from the BJP-led government.