Amid the ongoing unrest in Manipur, the Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party (NPP) withdrew its support from the BJP-led Manipur government on Sunday. In an official letter to BJP National President JP Nadda, NPP stated, 'The Manipur government under Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has completely failed to control ethnic violence and restore normalcy in the state. Considering the current situation, the National People's Party has decided to withdraw support from the government led by Biren Singh in Manipur with immediate effect.'
Manipur Congress President and MLA from Wangkhem, Keshyam Meghachandra, wrote in a post on X, 'If the people of Manipur want a new mandate to bring peace to the state, I am ready to resign from the position of MLA along with all Congress MLAs.' Responding to this post, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote, 'Well done! But the Chief Minister should resign first.'
The question now is, after NPP withdrew support, is the N. Biren Singh government in Manipur in danger? The answer is no. Looking at the results of the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, the BJP won 32 seats, Congress 5, JD(U) 6, Naga People's Front 5, and Conrad Sangma's National People's Party won 7 seats. Besides, the Kuki People's Alliance won 2 seats and 3 seats went to independent candidates.
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In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the majority mark is 31, and the BJP has 32 legislators itself. Shortly after the 2022 assembly elections, 5 out of 6 JD(U) MLAs formally joined the saffron party, raising the number of BJP members in the assembly to 37. Therefore, the BJP government under Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Manipur has a majority on its own. Even after the NPP's 7 legislators withdrew support, the government will not be unstable.
Source: aajtak
Six members of the same family—three women and three children—went missing from the Borobekra area of Jiribam after the violence in the region on November 11. All six individuals belonged to the Meitei community and were staying in a relief camp set up within the Borobekra police station area following unrest in June. The Meitei group alleges that armed Hmars, believed to be insurgents, abducted them after attacking the Borobekra police station on the morning of November 11.
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In a counter-operation, the CRPF neutralized 11 Kuki insurgents. While retreating after the encounter with security forces, the insurgents abducted six people from the Borobekra relief camp. On November 15, the bodies of a woman and two children were found near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers at the Manipur-Assam border. Meanwhile, the body of a 61-year-old woman, one of the abducted six individuals, was found floating in the Barak river in Assam's Cachar district near Jiribam on Sunday morning.
Relief Camp
Tensions Rise with Discoveries of Missing Persons' Bodies
The discovery of the bodies has ignited anger among the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley. They initiated a protest on November 16, issuing an ultimatum to the government to apprehend the insurgents responsible for the abduction and murders within 24 hours. An irate crowd stormed the residences of several legislators and ministers in the Imphal Valley. They even attempted to attack the residence of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The Manipur Police have arrested 23 individuals for alleged vandalism and arson of properties, highlighting a worrying increase in local unrest.
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Home Minister Amit Shah to Hold Major Meeting on Manipur Issue Tomorrow
Internet and mobile data services are suspended to curb the spread of fake news in the Imphal Valley, with a curfew imposed until further notice. These measures are a response to escalating violence, including attempts to disperse crowds targeting the homes of public representatives, which resulted in eight individuals being injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has canceled all his pre-scheduled programs for the Maharashtra elections. He is closely monitoring the situation in Manipur from Delhi. CRPF DG Anish Dayal has arrived in Manipur. On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials in the national capital, and he will conduct a detailed meeting on the matter on Monday.
