The Congress on Sunday termed Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation as “belated”. They asserted the state to be awaiting a visit by “our frequent-flier Prime Minister” Narendra Modi.
AICC general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X, “The CM’s resignation was belated. The people of Manipur now await a visit by our Frequent Flier PM who is off to France and the USA now – and who has found neither the time nor the inclination to go to Manipur these past twenty months.”
He also communicated Congress’ preparedness to move a no-confidence motion against CM Singh and his council of ministers in the Manipur Assembly on Monday.
“Sensing the climate, the Manipur CM has just resigned. This was a demand that the Congress has been making since early May 2023, when Manipur erupted,” he added.
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge mentioned on X, “The resignation of BJP’s Manipur CM is like ‘shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted’!”
Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being responsible for the devastating condition of the state, which led to the deaths of 258 people, the looting of more than 5,600 arms and 6.5 lakh rounds of ammunition from police armories, the displacement of over 60,000 people, and thousands still being forced to live in relief camps.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the real culprit of this disdain and apathy. He has forgotten that Manipur is a part of India. It is high time he rejigs his memory and locate the state of Manipur on the map of India!” he said.
“Modi ji has not stepped on Manipur’s soil since his last election campaign in January 2022, although he had time to visit several foreign countries in between. Now that the CM has belatedly resigned, we hope and urge him to visit Manipur and hear the stories of horror from the people,” he added.
Kharge credited the Congress party’s no-confidence motion, mounting public pressure, and the Supreme Court investigation to be the cause of CM Singh’s resignation.
N. Biren Singh resigned from the chief minister’s position on Sunday after submitting his official resignation letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
In his letter, the BJP leader expressed gratitude to the Central government for its interventions and developmental efforts while also requesting continued support for the state’s progress.
In addition, Singh urged the central government to continue some of the initiatives which included the territorial integrity of Manipur, crack down on border infiltration and illegal migrants, fight against drugs and narco-terrorism, revised mechanism of FMR, and time-bound and faster border.
