Guwahati: A year ago, amid intensified violence in Manipur and under mounting pressure to resign, Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh had announced his decision to step down, only to retract it later. Today, Singh remains resolute about continuing in office “to protect the indigenous communities” of the state.
In a recent discussion with ThePrint, the Manipur CM indicated he would “gladly resign” if it helps quell the conflict, but added that there are “reasons” why he “must stay” in office.
This development comes amid speculation about his future, particularly after he was not invited by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for a security review meeting on Manipur held in Delhi, which was attended by top officials including Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, and Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi.
CM Singh also oversees the home portfolio in Manipur.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat had last Monday expressed concerns about the ongoing security challenges in Manipur, underscoring the need for urgent attention.
In an exclusive interview to ThePrint Wednesday, Singh said that the situation in Manipur is “delicate as well as complicated”, and that the state needs “someone who will not compromise its future, and the future of the indigenous communities.”
When asked if he would step down if the need arises yet again, Singh said he intends to “resolve the crisis with all available resources”, as the general public and his followers have extended faith in his leadership.
“If my resignation would stop the conflict, I would gladly resign, but there are reasons why I must remain in my position. The conflict itself is a result of the ‘War on Drugs’, which my government launched against the drug mafias, who plan to extend the Golden Triangle to Northeast India. It is an outcome of the measures undertaken against illegal immigration and mass poppy cultivation in the hills,” Singh said.
“We need to see beyond temporary or quick solutions, and I am taking strong and crucial decisions to protect the indigenous population of the state and ensure they are safe and protected for the next 1,000 years,” he added.
Expressing gratitude to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his concern towards Manipur, Singh said there are various factors at play in the state, and that finding a solution has been complicated as “several anti-national forces with vested interests, to bring down the BJP government, started playing politics over the crisis”.
“The solution could not be achieved immediately because there are many elements investing in dragging and further protracting the crisis with their ulterior motives. Some outside forces do not want to see a resolution at all. Now, as the central government has taken up the Manipur issue on priority under the leadership of Prime Minister Modiji, and high-level security meetings have started under Union Home Minister Amit Shahji, things will be settled very soon, I hope,” Singh told ThePrint.
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‘Kuki militants violated peace in Jiribam’
Speaking on the turmoil witnessed earlier this month in Jiribam district, the chief minister explained how peace was disrupted “after a local was beheaded by alleged Kuki militants”, following which, several houses were torched.
Earlier this month, ThePrint had reported the recovery of a mutilated body of a Meitei man in Jiribam that caused widespread panic, “reigniting old hostilities”. In the state, the ongoing ethnic conflict has left hundreds dead and tens of thousands displaced over the past 13 months.
“Jiribam had been kept safe and secure with assistance of central security forces until they were temporarily withdrawn for deployment elsewhere due to the recent Lok Sabha elections. Armed Kuki militants allegedly took advantage of the absence of security and violated the peace. We are collecting reports on the circumstances leading to the incident, while security forces are returning to the state,” said Singh.
There have also been allegations of local legislators not making visits to affected districts. According to Singh, though, this is not “entirely true”.
“The representatives have been visiting the villages and districts facing the attacks and proactively assisting the affected villagers and displaced families. However, we have had some difficulties in accessing some of the sensitive areas due to security reasons and remoteness. As you may be aware, the convoy of my advance security team was ambushed by Kuki militants on the way to Jiribam,” he said.
Arambai Tennggol — ‘cultural organisation drawn into unrest’
Expressing his views on the activities of Arambai Tennggol, considered a radical socio-religious group of Meitei youth, CM Singh clarified it is “a cultural organisation, which got drawn into the unrest, much like the village volunteers who were compelled to pick up weapons to defend their villages from armed aggressors”.
“The organisation has pledged to surrender their weapons once the indigenous communities are provided safety from aggressors,” Singh told ThePrint.
Describing the ethnic conflict in the state as one “between the government and drug mafias, and their supporters”, the CM pointed out that there was a “disinformation campaign” on social media against one community.
“During the crisis, one community was systemically vilified and demonised with a well-organised disinformation campaign on social media, while the other was portrayed as the hapless victim of the unrest. The truth is, both communities were unfortunately drawn into a conflict instigated by drug mafias and illegal immigrants,” Singh said.
‘Army, Assam Rifles can’t be blamed entirely’
Earlier in January, the CM had criticised the central security forces, saying they had been deployed in the state “to protect people, not to watch”.
However, in his conversation with ThePrint, he said that the army or the Assam Rifles “cannot be blamed entirely”.
“Of course, there have been reports of misconduct and unfortunate incidents involving the Assam Rifles from different sources…the public was not entirely happy with its handling of the situation. This was especially when the violence was at its peak. These instances, however, are relatively few. Despite these issues, the central security forces have been instrumental in controlling and mitigating the violence in Manipur. Arms recovery continue through combing operations by the combined forces,” said CM Singh.
On BJP’s leadership & Congress
When asked about reports of yet another dissidence within the party against his leadership, CM Singh said it was “another attempt to demoralise the party members and workers by those with vested interests and agendas”.
“I assure you that BJP Manipur Pradesh remains stronger as ever with Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji, returning to lead the country once again in his third consecutive term,” he said.
Last year, less than two weeks before the ethnic conflict broke out in the state, voices of dissent had surfaced against Biren Singh and the BJP-led government, and at least three party legislators had announced their resignation from administrative positions.
At the time, few BJP MLAs from the Kuki community had visited Delhi with grievances against Singh, including a complaint against the state government’s decision in March last year to withdraw from the 2008 Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with two Kuki rebel groups.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won both seats in Manipur even as the polling process was marked by incidents of firing and intimidation. While Congress’s Angomcha Bimol Akoijam defeated his nearest rival from the BJP, Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur won against Kachui Timothy Zimik of the Naga People’s Front, part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Northeast.
Asked if the conflict played a role in the NDA’s losses, the chief minister said, “It may or may not have, but that doesn’t really matter now.”
“India is the largest democracy in the world and ultimately, it is the people who take the decision. I respect the mandate of the general public. A political party returning to the picture is nothing out of the ordinary if we consider the political history of Manipur. Regardless, the BJP government is prepared to work with the elected representatives towards building a better future for Manipur,” he added.
However, he acknowledged that there is room for improvement.
“In the state’s current scenario, where emotions are running high, public sentiments are swayed by various factors at the time of the polls. We are gathering reports from the ground and assessing to see where there’s room for improvement.”
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
