Ruling MLAs seek date with PM to resign en-masse
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 28 2024:
Amid the humanitarian crisis gripping the state for over a year, some MLAs of the ruling BJP and its alliance partners have flown to Delhi to seek appointment with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister for putting forward proposal for resignation of the CM Biren Singh-led BJP government in the state.
On Thursday, chief minister N Biren chaired a meeting to discuss plans for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah to push for bringing a solution to the 13-month long crisis in the state.
Following the meeting attended by 25 MLAs, Transport minister Khasim Vashum along with BJP MLAs Kh Ibomcha, Sapam Kunjakeswor, Dinganglung Gangmei, Sanasam Premchand, Kh Raghumani and Th Arunkumar left for Delhi on Friday to seek an appointment with the two central leaders.
Interestingly, Thursday's meeting figured some ruling party MLAs expressing disappointment over the failure of the central government to resolve the ethnic crisis and subsequently decided to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and urge them to come up with a specific solution to the crisis.
A letter requesting appointments with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister was also sent via fax from the chief minister's office to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Subsequently, the minister, along with the MLAs, flew to Delhi to follow up on the letter.
They reached New Delhi on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, in a phone conversation with this daily, a BJP MLA disclosed that the group of MLAs who landed in Delhi included an advance team tasked with following up on the letter sent for seeking appointments with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
Once the appointments are confirmed, the remaining MLAs will leave for the national capital.
The BJP MLA expressed disappointment that despite the 13-month long crisis in Manipur, the central government appears indifferent.
This sentiment has prompted the MLAs to feel disheartened, leading to the proposed trip to Delhi to meet with the Prime Minister and enquire steps being taken, if any, to resolve the crisis.
In the event of securing appointment with the Prime Minister, the MLAs plan to propose the resignation of chief minister Biren's BJP-led government.
Additionally, preparations are underway to stage protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
On the other hand, BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sarda Devi met with home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday during which she urged the latter to take a decisive action for addressing the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
She also engaged with other national leaders for advocating the same cause.
Mention may be made that on June 30 last year, chief minister N Biren withdrew his decision to tender resignation after a large group of people, primarily women, mobilised to block his attempt to proceed to the Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation, and tore apart his resignation paper.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded amidst heightened tensions following reports of renewed violence in the state.
The crowd, which included women vendors of the historic Khwairamband Ima markets and prominent women leaders, converged outside Biren's official residence to prevent him from heading to meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey and formally submit his resignation.
The CM's effort to leave his bungalow, accompanied by several key ministers and MLAs, was intercepted by demonstrators near the head post office.
The situation remained tense until senior women leaders were allowed to the bungalow for discussions with the Chief Minister.
During the meeting, the CM assured to withdraw his resignation in honour of the people s wishes.
He then went on to clarify the same on his Twitter account, stating "At this crucial juncture, I wish to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister".
The crowd refused to accept the verbal assurance from the CM, and consequently, a resignation letter signed by the CM and addressed to Governor Anusuiya Uikey was read aloud to the gathering by minister L Susindro through a PA system.
The letter was then handed over to one of the women protestors who then tore it to shreds.
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