Dissent brews against CM over violence in Manipur

Rumblings against the N Biren Singh government grew louder in Manipur and New Delhi on Tuesday, with even lawmakers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies expressing dissatisfaction with the volatile situation in the northeastern state that has been grappling with ethnic strife

- Utpal Parashar and Smriti Kak Ramachandran

GUWAHATI/NEW DELHI: Differences have emerged among BJP legislators on Singh's handling of the issue and some of them want him to quit to ensure an early resolution of the crisis. Speaking on condition of anonymity, senior leaders in the Capital said there were concerns within the party that the continued violence may hit the BJP's "double-engine government" plank and hamper its electoral prospects in the states scheduled to go to the polls this year, including Mizoram.

Manipur has been on the boil since May 3 witnessing widespread ethnic clashes between the Meitei community, who are dominant in Imphal valley, and the Kuki community, who are in majority in the hill districts. The violence has claimed at least 115 lives, injured over 300 and displaced as many as 40,000 people from both communities.

Singh, who is a Meitei, has been blamed by Kuki groups for taking sides.

“Ten Kuki MLAs, including seven from the BJP, have gone public with their opposition to the chief minister. Though there’s no open and vocal opposition among other BJP MLAs, there are some of us who are unhappy with how he has handled the crisis in Manipur till date and want some changes so that there is an early resolution,” a BJP MLA from Manipur said on Tuesday, seeking anonymity.

Nine state legislators, including eight from the BJP and an independent who supports the state government, submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in New Delhi on Monday that said there was complete breakdown of law and order in the state.