Imphal: Twenty-one Manipur MLAs have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah separately, urging them to form a “popular government” in the northeastern state, which is now under the President’s rule, to ensure peace and normalcy.
The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President’s rule in Manipur, where more than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The imposition of the President’s rule came after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
The letters, containing the same appeal, were signed by 13 BJP MLAs, 3 NPP legislators, 3 Naga Peoples’ Front MLAs and two independent members of the assembly.
The letters stated, “The people of Manipur welcomed the President’s rule…With lots of hope and expectations. It’s going to be almost three months since the President’s rule was imposed, but no visible actions to bring peace and normalcy are seen so far.”
“There is strong apprehension among the people that the violence may reoccur in the state. Many civil organisations have come out openly against the imposition of the President’s rule…,” it said.
The legislators claimed in the April 10 letter that these organisations have started “holding public rallies, street corner meetings, instigating the general public, blaming the ruling MLAs for not staking claim to form a popular government and fixing responsibility for the imposition of PR (President’s rule) in Manipur”.
The letters were received separately by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 29 and made public on Wednesday, one of the legislators said.
The MLAs also said, “We feel that the installation of a popular government is the only means to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur.”
