Congress Manipur MP: ‘If Biren Singh thinks BJP is going to violate Manipur’s territorial integrity, he should say so openly’

In his resignation letter to the Governor, Biren Singh emphasised five points as ‘a request’ to the Central government, including maintaining the ‘territorial integrity’ of the state. What do you think is going to happen now?

See, territorial integrity has been the position of most of the national parties. The Congress has been firm on this, that territorial integrity will be protected. Others like former (BJP) Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said it. I don’t know about Modiji – whether he has committed to that… Nobody can take a contrary position to this. He (Biren Singh) is doing emotional drama on this. If he thinks his party is going to (violate Manipur’s) territorial integrity, he should say so openly – that some of his party leaders are contemplating this.

What do you think is going to happen now in the state?

I am trying to assess. The government of India has gone beyond all propriety, so I don’t know what they are going to do… It is a shameless and rule-less situation. We suffered for two years. The Union government says something and the state government says something else… I don’t know what to expect, but I expect the rest of the country knows what has happened here… All constitutional propriety – we are celebrating 75 years of the Constitution… (was ignored)… If better sense prevails, if Raj Dharma is there… the government of India (should) follow it now and treat the people of Manipur as part of India, try to take firm, resolute and judicious steps to restore the dignity and well-being of the people of the state.

Do you think President’s Rule will be imposed in the state now?

They have two options – install a new government and have the Assembly, or put the Assembly under animated suspension or dissolve it. If you dissolve, then fresh elections. If it is animated suspension, they can revive the Assembly after some time.

(The Raj Bhavan has asked Biren Singh to continue in office till ‘alternative arrangements are made’, and issued a notification nixing the Assembly session that was to start Monday for the time being.)

The Kukis had been demanding Biren Singh’s resignation for a long time. Do you think his resignation may pave the way for a solution to the crisis?

I am quite disappointed with many of the Kuki leaders – them justifying killings as retaliatory. In that case, all violence is a form of retaliation. I think it is unfortunate… To my knowledge, none of the Kuki leaders have appealed for peace… I will be looking at how they respond now.

Will Kuki leaders be more open to a resolution now, given Singh’s resignation?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I have never heard Kuki political leaders appealing for calm and peace. They have only been demanding a separate administration, or justifying acts of violence. In Imphal, I was addressing a gathering and I said that in Jiribam, a Hmar woman was killed, and then a Meitei woman. I maintained that women always suffer first, and I requested a moment of silence to remember both those killed.

I don’t think a Kuki leader can do that in the Hills (where they dominate). There are a lot of sensible voices on both sides that have been suppressed. I hope better sense prevails. Peaceful co-existence is what Manipur and this country need.

What about radical groups in the Valley alleged to be close to the Biren Singh administration?

There are many interest groups, both within the Kukis and Meiteis. The political patronage behind these armed groups is important. How they respond matters less. What is critical is how the Government of India deals with these elements. The State, so far, has been abdicating its responsibility. In Manipur, we see people playing football with assault rifles. Can you imagine such a scene in Delhi, Mumbai, Kerala or wherever?

A State is a State because it claims monopoly over the legitimate use of physical force. When there is failure to claim that monopoly, then it is a rogue State. The State must deal with these groups that are challenging its authority.

So the State’s response so far has been weak?

For me, it doesn’t matter whether it is in the (Meitei-dominated) Valley or the Hills, any challenge to the authority of the State must be confronted. And we have not been doing that. We are just framing one community or the other, to justify some narrative. Majority-minority, Christian-Hindu, we fall into these traps, and then some people exploit it. What we need right now is for the State to reassert its authority.

And, with the development of the CM’s resignation, I am hoping that we can ask the right questions and force the State to intervene. Whoever becomes the new CM must lead a government that is honest and resolute.