BJP high command backs Biren as Chief Minister: Report
CM holds meet with top officials on return from Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 04 2019: After holding talks with BJP Central leaders on the protracted political crisis which is centred around the demand for leadership change, Chief Minister N Biren as well as most of the rebel BJP MLAs who had been camping at Delhi returned to Imphal this afternoon.

The legislators who have returned to the State include Speaker Y Khemchand, Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen, MLA S Rajen, MLA TT Haokip, Deputy Speaker K Robindro, MLA L Radhakishore, MLA Th Satyabrata and MLA H Dingo.

It is said that Works Minister Biswajit may return to Imphal tomorrow.

CM holds meet with top officials on return from Delhi

Soon after returning, the Chief Minister held a meeting with top ranking officials of all departments at his office and told them what he wishes and how things should be done.

On his return, the Chief Minister convened a meeting with the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors of different departments.

During the meeting, Biren directed officials concerned to expedite execution of projects which have been pending on account of the Lok Sabha elections held this year and other reasons.

Pointing out that the dry/working season has set in, the Chief Minister instructed departments to complete all their pending works.

He also instructed officials concerned to launch another round of the Go to Village mission.

The Hindu reports: The crisis over Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh seems to have passed with the BJP high command in New Delhi having taken a decision that there will not be a change of leadership in the State's Government.

According to top sources in the BJP, Mr Singh along with other MLAs met with BJP president Amit Shah, working president JP Nadda and general secretary organisation BL Santhosh late on Wednesday evening and had a patient hearing from all the three.

He had been facing dissidence from within his own Government and also protests over the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), which Home Minister Amit Shah had declared would be coming soon, before undertaking a National Registration of Citizens (NRC) exercise in several parts of the country.

Cabinet reshuffle
BJP leadership told Mr Singh that a senior leader from Delhi will be sent to Manipur soon to settle the internal issues within the party, including, possibly effecting a Cabinet reshuffle in the State that could go a long way in calming tempers.

The issue of CAB has also led to protests in the State, with some dissidents raising this as an issue that requires sensitive handling.

Sensitive issue
According to senior BJP leaders in the know, Mr Shah has assured that there would be nothing done to affect the culture and rights of the indigenous population in the State, but while the hill areas are protected under Article 371(C) of the Constitution, those residing in the Valley, the Sanamahi and Hindu Meiteis both, are sensitive over the issue.

The Manipur Assembly had passed the Manipur People's Protection Bill, 2018 in July last year aimed at providing protection to the Meiteis in the Valley.

That measure is still pending with the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The State unit is hoping that it goes through and some of the negative perception over the CAB in the State can be ameliorated.

The CAB aims at providing a path to Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Parsis and Buddhists fleeing religious persecution from India's neighbouring countries.

With a porous border with Bangladesh, North Eastern States have been nervous that it could lead to swamping by Bengali Hindus.