Amidst the tumultuous atmosphere prevailing in Manipur due to recent ethnic clashes, the senior leader of the CPI(M), Jitendra Chaudhury, currently part of a party delegation on a sensitive visit to the strife-torn region, has called for the removal of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, attributing the unrest to his alleged failure in restoring normalcy.
Chaudhury, a prominent figure within the Tripura unit of the CPI(M), and a key member of the three-day delegation focused on understanding the ground realities, has brought forth a striking allegation. He asserted that the clashes tearing at the fabric of Manipur's social harmony are part of a larger strategy orchestrated by the BJP-RSS nexus. According to him, this divisive approach aims to sow seeds of discord across the nation. In a conversation with PTI, Chaudhury remarked, "We don't see the strife in Manipur as an isolated situation but as part of the BJP-RSS' pan-India strategy of creating divisions and triggering mistrust among people to rule them. Such incidents are happening everywhere."
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However, the BJP swiftly rejected these allegations, firmly asserting that the path to peace for Manipur is well underway. Despite sporadic incidents that have been reported, the BJP maintains that the overall situation is progressively improving. Subrata Chakraborty, the spokesperson for the Tripura BJP, went a step further, suggesting that the CPI(M) delegation's visit could potentially be an attempt to exploit the ongoing turmoil for their own political gain, as reported by PTI.
The CPI(M) delegation, led by their national general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, undertook a comprehensive assessment of the situation by visiting three relief camps and engaging with Governor Anusuiya Uikey. Expressing grave concern, Chaudhury stated, "The situation in Manipur is alarming as mistrust is growing with each passing day. The Biren Singh government in the state, instead of bringing peace, has failed to take any visible step in restoring normalcy." Chaudhury also criticized the central government's purported monitoring of the situation, emphasizing the discrepancy between rhetoric and reality.
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The central point of contention revolves around Chief Minister Biren Singh's handling of the crisis. Chaudhury pointedly accused Singh of orchestrating a political drama of resignation to secure his position, while failing to address the pressing need for restoring calm. Chaudhury clarified, "We don't demand sacking of the BJP-led government in Manipur but seek the immediate removal of Biren Singh."
The deep-rooted ethnic tensions between the Kukis and Meiteis, which ignited on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March,' continue to cast a long shadow over Manipur's stability. This event, organized to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, sparked the clashes. The Meiteis, constituting the majority in Manipur's population, inhabit the Imphal Valley, while the Nagas and Kukis, together forming the tribal population, dwell in the hill districts.
