Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh found himself in controversy as he taunted Kuki users on social media, only to delete his tweets later. This incident occurred just hours after he had clarified that he would not resign from his position. The political drama unfolded when Singh appeared to initiate the process of resigning, but was met with thousands of demonstrators outside his residence who prevented him from reaching the Governor’s residence. The gathering of Meitei women showed their support for the BJP leader and tore up a paper that allegedly contained his resignation.
Following the chaotic scenes, Singh took to Twitter to clarify his stance, stating, “At this crucial juncture, I wish to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister,” putting an end to the speculations surrounding his resignation. However, amidst the ongoing ethnic violence in the state, Singh, who belongs to the Meitei community, has faced criticism from Kuki groups who accuse him of favoring one side.
One social media user, Thang Kuki, commented on Singh’s post, suggesting that he should have resigned earlier. In response, Singh provocatively asked, “Are you from India or Myanmar?” The chief minister’s remark was aimed at highlighting the cultural ties between the Kuki community in Manipur and those living across the border in Myanmar. He made a similar reference when another user mentioned the significant presence of Meitei people in Myanmar, to which Singh replied, “Meitei in Myanmar never ask for their homeland in Myanmar.”
Singh continued his exchanges with social media users, including one who identified himself as a citizen of Zalengam, a proposed separate state by Kukis. Singh replied, “Can be in Myanmar.” A Congress functionary also joined the conversation, urging Singh to stop the drama and send his resignation letter to the governor via fax. In response, Singh wrote, “Don’t bark without knowing the ground realities; the mainland will not understand the complexity of the Myanmar border Indian state.”
The state of Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence for nearly two months, with clashes between the Meitei community and tribal communities, particularly the Kukis, who reside primarily in the hill districts. The violence erupted after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The controversial tweets and subsequent deletion by Chief Minister Biren Singh have further fueled tensions and added to the already volatile situation in Manipur. The incident highlights the challenges of maintaining harmony and addressing the concerns of different ethnic communities in the state.
Sources By Agencies
