We Cannot Say What's Happening Now, The Situation Is Very Chaotic: Manipur CM N Biren Singh

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the situation in the state is "very chaotic" and "we cannot say what is happening now". 

Manipur has been in the grips of ethnic violence for over a month a half now. Beginning May 3, when the tribal communities carried out 'Tribal Solidarity March' against the proposed scheduled tribes (ST) status to the state's Meitei community, the state's tribals and Meitei community have been locked in ethnic violence that has so far killed over 100 and displaced several thousands.

After meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Singh said on Sunday said that that the "changing nature of violence" and "civil unrest" in some districts is a cause of concern for Shah. 

Singh also said that Shah also raised several issues with him, such as the attack on the houses of Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singh and the residence of state minister Sushindro Meitei and attacks on government facilities. He said that he told Shah that state and central governments have been able to control the violence to a "great extent".

The meeting between Shah and Singh came a day after Shah hosted an all-party meeting over the Manipur violence. The Opposition has called Singh as the reason for the violence and has called for his sacking as the Chief Minister of Manipur. It has also cricised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue. 

What did Manipur CM N Biren Singh say?

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the situation in the state is "very chaotic" and it cannot be said what's happening at the moment.

"The initial phase of the violence was highly political and sensitive but we cannot say what is happening now. The situation is very chaotic," PTI quoted Singh as saying.

Singh said he briefed Shah about the "evolving situation" in Manipur and said the state and central governments have been able to control the violence to a "great extent".

"The changing nature of violence from the exchange of fire in the peripheral areas to the civil unrest in the valley districts has become a matter of concern for Amit Shah ji...Shah raised issues such as the attacks on the house of Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singh and the residence of state minister Sushindro Meitei, the ongoing arson and destruction of government properties and hampering the movement of security forces," PTI quoted as saying.

Singh further said that Shah assured him that the central government will take all possible steps to bring back normalcy in Manipur. 

"It's time for all the stakeholders, civil bodies, MLAs and political leaders to sit together and identify the areas where all must work," Singh said, as per PTI.

All-party meeting on Manipur

The meeting between Shah and Singh took place a day after Shah convened an all-party meeting over Manipur violence. 

Eighteen political parties, four MPs from Northeast India, and two chief ministers from the region attended the meeting, according to PTI.

Shah told the all-party meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been monitoring the situation in the violence-hit state since day one and "guiding us with full sensitivity" to find a solution to the problem, reported PTI.

The Opposition has criticised Modi for being silent on Manipur violence. In a memorandum to Modi, 10 Opposition parties called Singh "architect" of the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur and blamed the "politics of divide and rule in Manipur" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as being responsible for the situation in the state.