Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has confirmed that he will not resign from his position, putting an end to the rumors that had spread throughout the day. Thousands of demonstrators had blocked Singh’s convoy from proceeding towards Raj Bhavan, demanding that he not step down. Eventually, Singh addressed the women protesters and assured them that he would not resign. He later tweeted, At this crucial juncture, I would like to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister.
The situation was finally defused when women leaders came out of Singh’s residence and reassured the crowd that he had no intentions of resigning. After this statement, the protesters gradually dispersed.
Unconfirmed reports had suggested that Singh had already typed out a resignation letter but was persuaded by his supporters to tear it up. Some of the women agitators even claimed that they had seen the torn letter, and copies of it were circulating on social media. The Chief Minister’s Office did not respond to queries regarding this matter.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of youth wearing black shirts and women had gathered in front of Singh’s residence, urging him not to resign. Kshetrimayum Shanti, a women leader, emphasized the importance of the Biren Singh government standing firm and cracking down on troublemakers during this critical juncture.
These demonstrations were sparked by renewed violence in the state on Thursday, which resulted in the loss of three lives and left five injured. The toll rose further on Friday as one more person succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Armed rioters had initiated unprovoked firing at Haraothel village, and security forces responded in a calibrated manner to control the situation, according to the Army.
The bodies of two of the rioters were later collected by their community members, who then took out a procession towards the Chief Minister’s residence. The protesters even challenged the police to arrest them and resorted to burning tires on the road to impede police movement. As a result, security personnel had to use tear gas shells and resort to lathi-charge to disperse the mob.
It is important for the government to handle the current situation responsibly, addressing the concerns of the protesters and taking appropriate actions to maintain peace and stability in Manipur. The Chief Minister’s decision to remain in office may help to alleviate tensions, but it is crucial for all parties involved to engage in dialogue and work towards finding long-term solutions to the issues at hand.
