Guwahati/Imphal
The latest surge in violence in Manipur following the killing of six Meiteis by Kuki militants not only threatens to put the State in renewed turmoil but also puts Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in the tightest spot yet given the growing resentment within the ruling coalition over the handling of the situation ever since the clashes between the two sides first erupted on May 3, 2023.
On Monday, only 27 MLAs (including the CM) of the ruling coalition’s 45 MLAs attended the NDA meeting called by Singh to discuss the prevailing law and order scenario. One MLA joined virtually. Interestingly, those who attended included 4 of the 7 NPP MLAs whose party had on Monday withdrew its support to the Biren Singh government.
All the 10 tribal MLAs, 7 of them from the BJP, did not attend the meet and gave no reason. A Minister also did not attend the meeting even as six MLAs cited health conditions as the reasons behind their absence. There have been demands for the removal of Biren Singh as the CM from time to time but the BJP central leadership has continued to stick with him.
“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,” the CM said in a post on X.
The coalition passed an 8-point resolution that included urging the Centre to start mass operations against the Kuki militants responsible for the kidnapping and killing of three women and three children; urging the Centre to hand over the case of the murder of the 6 innocent Meitei women and children, the death of one Hmar woman on November 7, and the killing of one Meitei woman on November 9 to the NIA; declaring the Kuki militant groups responsible for the killing of the 6 persons as unlawful organisations within one week’s time, and reviewing the imposition of AFSPA among others.
But the ruling MLAs made it clear that if the resolutions taken are not acted upon then they will decide their own future course of action in consultation with the people of the State. The meeting also condemned the recent attacks at the residences of Ministers and MLAs.
The resolutions haven’t impressed Meitei civil society organisations though. They have rejected them and set a 24-hour deadline to take “concrete steps” failing which it will take “decisive action”.
Khuraijam Athouba, spokesperson for Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the umbrella body of Meitei outfits, said they had been eagerly waiting for the meeting of ruling party MLAs. “The people of Manipur are not satisfied with the resolutions. They have resolved to start mass operations against Kuki militants responsible for the killing of six innocent women and children in Jiribam. But we have been telling that the crime has happened not just in Jiribam but in several other places of Manipur since May 2023. People of Manipur have demanded the state government and the legislators to fix responsibility on all Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups and carry out operations against them,” he said.
It demanded that all SoO groups be declared unlawful organisations and their agreement with the Centre be junked.
“The government or legislators need not consult with the people again. Our position is very clear. Within the next 24 hours, we want the government to review this resolution and come back with a better resolution. If they don’t do that, we will intensify our agitation. Our first move will be to shut down the State and Central government offices,” the COCOMI spokesperson said.
The Centre on Monday decided to deploy an additional 50 CAPF companies In the strife-torn northeastern State. While as many as 10 Kuki militants were shot down by security forces after they came under attack on November 11, the retreating militants had abducted 6 Meiteis, whose bodies were later found resulting in Meitei mobs attacking the residences of Chief Minister Biren Singh and three MLAs.
