Illegal migrants, drug mafia hit by BJP govt'

For 18 months now, Nongthombam Biren Singh, 63, has continued to govern a state in the grips of an internecine ethnic conflict, surviving demands for his ouster as chief minister, from the Opposition, and also from members of his own party.

- N BIREN SINGH

In an interview with Prawesh Lama in Imphal days after the latest spike in violence in the state, he struck a defiant note, and said he was being targeted because he had stopped the drug trade. Edited excerpts:

Your critics have demanded President's rule as the first step to restore normalcy in the state?

The current government in Manipur has the mandate of the people. The government is working towards restoring peace but vested interests, including opposition, drug mafia, and illegal migrants do not want us here. The Opposition thinks it has a chance to come back to power and are thus demanding President's rule. There are illegal refugees and drug mafia, who have been affected by the BJP government's work on protecting our nation's interests. They do not want normalcy here. The state government along with Centre will find these mischief mongers, terrorists... and bring normalcy.

But the Kuki-Zo tribal people of Manipur say you are not their CM? That you do not represent them

I am the elected chief minister of Manipur and represent all indigenous people of the state. Their local legislators too are members of the house, of which I am the leader. I am here to protect them but I will act tough against illegal migrants from outside who are fanning the violence. I am not the CM of illegal migrants. I am not the CM of those who bring drugs into India, which later goes to the interior parts of the country. The main reason I am targeted by certain people is because I have stopped the flow of drugs and got central agencies to burn fields that give rise to drug money.

Many believe your government is unstable. The NPP is no longer your ally. Some of your party MLAs did not attend the meeting you called earlier this week