Former Manipur Chief Minister and BJP leader N. Biren Singh has said that he was compelled to resign from office due to the worsening law and order situation in the state.
His remarks, made during a public programme in Imphal on Wednesday, come as Manipur continues to remain under President’s Rule following over a year of ethnic conflict and political paralysis.
“We all know how President’s Rule came to be imposed in the state. There is a need for a popular government, and it should come. I have stood for popular government from the very beginning. Due to the situation, I was forced to resign,” Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Manipur was plunged into chaos in May 2023 when violent clashes erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities over a proposed extension of Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis. The violence, which began as a protest, escalated into a full-blown ethnic conflict, claiming over 200 lives and displacing tens of thousands. With the state administration struggling to contain the violence, calls grew for Singh’s resignation amid allegations of bias and administrative failure. He eventually stepped down under pressure in early 2024.
Addressing a gathering earlier in the day at Heingang in Imphal East district, Singh spoke candidly about the difficulties his government faced, particularly over its controversial eviction drives and anti-drug campaigns.
“While the people of Assam have supported their government’s eviction drive wholeheartedly, the action taken in Manipur did not receive the same level of support,” he said, drawing a contrast with the BJP-ruled neighbouring state.
He lamented that his efforts to remove encroachments along national highways and from reserved forests were politicised. “When I evicted a section of encroachers along the national highway, I was called communal. The eviction drives were for the people and the state—not for me,” Singh asserted.
Singh also addressed the criticism he faced for his government’s ‘War on Drugs’ campaign, which sought to dismantle Manipur’s thriving narcotics networks. “I am even asked why I launched a campaign to eradicate drugs,” he said, highlighting the toll such policy decisions had taken on his administration.
The former CM’s comments come amid renewed demands from civil society groups, tribal organizations, and political parties for the reinstatement of an elected government. Many argue that the absence of a representative administration has worsened the humanitarian and governance crisis in Manipur, with critical issues like displacement, education disruption, and security concerns remaining unaddressed.
“In a popular government, people and administrators can go hand in hand more comfortably,” Singh said, echoing a sentiment that resonates with a public weary of prolonged uncertainty.