Imphal: Following the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the BJP of orchestrating the move to protect its government rather than addressing the concerns of the people.
Taking to social media, Gogoi stated that the resignation was not about saving Manipur but saving the BJP’s rule in the state. He further alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervened after realizing that the BJP would lose a no-confidence motion in the Assembly.
“I don’t think the BJP has any roadmap to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur. It is in the DNA of the party to prioritize its interests over the needs of the people,” Gogoi remarked.
Echoing similar sentiments, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi claimed that Singh’s resignation was the result of public pressure, a Supreme Court investigation, and the no-confidence motion moved by Congress.
“For nearly two years, BJP’s CM Biren Singh instigated division in Manipur. PM Modi allowed him to continue despite the violence, loss of life, and destruction of the idea of India in Manipur,” Gandhi alleged in a statement.
Singh tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday, nearly two years after ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The unrest began following a Manipur High Court order on May 3, 2023, directing the government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.
Accompanied by BJP state president A. Sharda Devi, BJP’s Northeast Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra, and at least 19 MLAs, Singh submitted his resignation at Raj Bhavan.
In his resignation letter, Singh expressed gratitude for the Central government’s interventions and developmental work in the state. He urged the Centre to maintain Manipur’s territorial integrity, curb border infiltration, deport illegal immigrants, and continue the fight against narco-terrorism.
His resignation came hours after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, further fueling speculation about the BJP’s internal strategy ahead of the anticipated political reshuffle in Manipur.