CM Biren retracts resignation move after public protest
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 30 2023: Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Fri day had to withdraw his decision to tender resignation after a large number of people, mostly women turned up at the CM's office residence to block him from meeting the Governor and asked him not to resign.

After news spread that the chief minister along with some of his cabinet colleagues and MLAs were contemplating resignation in resentment against the restive situation and that he was going to submit the resignation to Governor Anusuiya Ulkey around 10 am Friday, a huge crowd started congregating in front of the CM's Bungalow from all directions.

The crowd first converged near Nupi Lai complex till Nityaipat Chuthek to block the CM's route to Raj Bhavan.

More groups of women turned up at the location, blocking .the road from Post office till Rajbhavan.

The crowd also included vendors of Khwairamband Ima markets and senior leaders of various women's organisations in the state.

The crowd insisted that Chief Minister N Biren should not resign adding that now is not the right time for the same.

If he resigns at this time, the state will become leaderless and the President's Rule is imminent, which will allow 'outsiders' to manipulate the state's administration and see to the fulfilment of the separate administration demand of the Kukis, who are adamant to break Manipur apart at any cost.

As the crowd stayed and continued to block the CM and other ministers from coming out of the Bungalow, the CM along with some ministers, as well as other BJP knd NPP MLAs left his Bungalow from the northern gate around 2pm.On seeing the coijvoy driving out, the crowd near the head post office blocked the convoy.

Many men and women came forward and laid down in front of the vehicle, preventing the vehicles from moving forward.

CM Biren was accompanied by Works min ister Govindas Konthoujam, Health minister DrSapam Ranjan, CAF&PD minister LSusin-dro, Education minister Basanta Kumar, Social Welfare minister Heikham Dingo, Transport minister Khashim Vashum; MLAs Lourembam Rameshwor, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Loken, Th Shanti, Kongkham Robindro, RK Imo and S Kunjakishore (Keba) .

As the crowd continued to block his path, CM Biren alighted from his vehicle and greeted the people at the front.

He then returned to the Bungalow with his cabinet ministers and MLAs.

Prominent, senior women leaders of different women organisations, who were allowed into the Bungalow, told the CM that he cannot resign when the state is passing through a critical phase.

In response, 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 assur , ance from the CM.

As such, a resignation letter signed by him and addressed/to De submitted 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 protestor who then tore it all up.

Following this, the crowd gradually dispersed from the area.

Earlier in the afternoon/hundreds of youth and women squatted in front of the CM's residence demanding that Biren should not resign.

There were strong rumours since morning that the chief minister was contemplating resigning from the post after renewed violence in the state on Thursday that claimed three more lives and left five injured.

Kshetrimayum Shanti, a women leader said, "At this critical juncture, the Biren Singh government should stand firm and crack down on troublemakers" .

The toll in exchange of fire between security forces and suspected rioters in Kangpokpi district a day before, rose to three on Friday, with one more person succumbing to injuries in hospital, sources said.

Armed rioters had opened unprovoked firing at Haraoth-el village on Thursday, which the Army said forced security personnel to "respond in a calibrated manner" to tackle the situation.

Members of the community to which two of the rioters belonged collected their bodies on Thursday and tried to take out a procession to the CM's residence.

The demonstrators, led by women, even dared police to arrest them, and started burning tyres in the middle of the road to prevent police movement.

As security personnel stopped them from marching to CM Bi-ren's residence, the demonstrators turned violent, prompting police to use tear gas shells ana resort to lathicharge to disperse the mob.

Comment