GUWAHATI: Fissures in BJP’s Manipur unit over CM N Biren Singh‘s handling of the ongoing strife deepened Tuesday after 19 of 37 saffron party MLAs representing either side of the ethnic divide skipped the previous night’s NDA meeting in which a resolution was passed to go all out against the “Kuki militants” suspected to have killed six Meitei inmates of a shelter for the displaced in Jiribam.
Amid unconfirmed reports of the CM’s secretariat serving notices on 11 NDA members, including ministers, for abstaining from the meeting, Biren Singh issued a video message pledging to “undertake every necessary measure to safeguard people, regardless of their community”.
Letters were sent Sunday to all MLAs of BJP and its allies for a meeting to decide an appropriate response to the latest cycle of violence within hours of Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma’s NPP withdrawing support to the NDA govt, citing the CM’s failure to resolve the crisis.
NDA has a strength of 53 in the 60-member assembly. The alliance includes seven NPP MLAs, five from Naga People’s Front (NPF), one of JD(U) and three Independents, one of whom is a Kuki. Seven of BJP’s 37 legislators are Kukis, all of whom were absent from the meeting. Surprisingly, four of NPP’s seven legislators were part of the discussion despite the party no longer supporting the Biren Singh government.
A prominent BJP absentee was rural development minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. Three party MLAs and one from NPF provided prior intimation about their inability to attend the meeting, citing health concerns.
The opposition bench has five Congress legislators and two from Kuki People’s Alliance.
Manipur broadband blackout lifted but mobile Net ban stays
Letters were sent Sunday to all MLAs of BJP and its allies for a meeting to decide an appropriate response to the latest cycle of violence within hours of Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma’s NPP withdrawing support to the NDA govt, citing the CM’s failure to resolve the crisis.
“Chaired a crucial meeting with ruling MLAs today, where we strongly condemned the recent killing of innocents in Jiribam. Rest assured, justice will be ensured and firm action will be taken up against the perpetrators. Key decisions on Afspa and strengthening law & order were also taken to ensure peace and stability in the state,” Biren Singh posted on X.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a dig at what he called BJP’s divided house in Manipur. “The writing on the wall is clear. But is the grand sutradhar of Manipur – Union home minister — to whom the PM has abdicated and outsourced all responsibility for the state, reading it?” he wrote on X.
Addressing a presser at AICC headquarters in New Delhi along with PCC chief K Meghachandra Singh, he demanded that Shah and CM Biren Singh resign over their failure to stop Manipur from “burning”.
Meanwhile, Manipur govt conditionally lifted on Tuesday the broadband blackout across the valley districts, citing difficulties faced by citizens, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and other establishments. Mobile internet data remains suspended.
The authorities also announced easing of curfew in Imphal East, Imphal West and Kakching districts from 5am to 10am Wednesday to enable people to purchase essential items. Restrictions on gatherings and protests would remain in force during that period.