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
Esta historia es de la edición November 22, 2024 de Hindustan Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 22, 2024 de Hindustan Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
2 labourers die of toxic smoke from traditional wood heater
Two men died of asphyxiation from smoke from a coal stove they had lit to keep warm at night in Mundka, west Delhi early Saturday morning, police said on Sunday.
Despite sharp air quality dip, Grap-3 not invoked
Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the higher end of the \"very poor\" category on Sunday, but the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR decided not to invoke curbs under Section 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) due to a declining trend towards the evening.
Bhel may go off government's divestment target
State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) may no longer be a potential divestment target as the government considers categorising the maker of rail coaches to power generation equipment as a \"strategic\" public sector unit, according to two people close to the development.
Axelsen, Young reign supreme
It was the Dane's 3rd title while it was a 2nd win for Korea's An at India's premier badminton event
India clinch Kho Kho WC titles with facile victories
India made a splash by claiming both the men's and women's titles in the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here, defeating Nepal 54-36 and 78-40 respectively on Sunday.
Stage set for 16th India Art Fair in Feb
At least forty-one artists and artist collectives, twelve institutions and seven galleries will make their debut at the India Art Fair, one of the country's most anticipated commercial art events slated to be held between February 6 and 9 at NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla in south Delhi.
AAP vows homes for govt staff in tranches
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday promised to formulate a scheme to provide government employees, starting with sanitation workers, permanent houses on instalments \"where they can stay after they retire\", in a poll promise aimed at canvassing government workers to vote for the party in the Delhi Assembly elections on February 5.
Policing personal freedoms, courtesy social sensibilities
What does it mean to live in the world's largest democracy if consenting adults must still justify their private choices?
Minor nabbed for gunpoint robbery
Three persons, including a minor, allegedly robbed an e-commerce delivery agent on gunpoint on the Ring Road near Hyatt Regency last week, police said.
CENTRE APPOINTS ASSAM DGP AS NEW CRPF CHIEF
Assam director general of police (DGP) Gyanendra Pratap Singh has been appointed as the new chief of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) said.
