Imphal: Under-pressure Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had his resignation letter ready and was scheduled to meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey at 3 pm on Friday.
However, he had to change his decision after dramatic events in the capital city of strife-torn Manipur this afternoon.
Hundreds of local people, most of them women, came to know about the CM’s decision and assembled in big numbers to dissuade him from resigning.
#WATCH | Moment when women supporting Manipur CM Biren Singh tore up his resignation letter pic.twitter.com/dB8IjWNmya
— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2023
They ultimately tore up his letter, addressed to the Governor, tendering his resignation and thanking her for the “cooperation and guidance during the past few months.”
Biren Singh later put out a tweet stating that he won’t be resigning as CM “at this crucial juncture.”
At this crucial juncture, I wish to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister.
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) June 30, 2023
The Sangai Express, an Imphal-based daily, had reported that the chief minister had been told that he should either quit or the Centre would step in and take over.
Reacting to the report, a large crowd of mostly women gathered outside the CM’s residence, Secretariat and Raj Bhavan, urging Biren Singh not to resign. They urged the CM to take a “firm stand against the troublemakers”, according to PTI.
Their wish was ultimately fulfilled as Biren Singh changed his decision.
Ethnic violence broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities in the north-eastern state in early May, leading to over 100 deaths so far.
In the recent spurt of violence, three people were killed yesterday following an exchange of fire between security forces and suspected rioters.
The Kuki community urged the Central government to bring normalcy in Manipur, having losing faith in the chief minister.
Nine BJP legislators from Manipur also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month, saying that the people of the state had lost complete faith in the N Biren Singh-led government.
Biren Singh recently met Union Home minister Amit Shah also, but refused to quit.
