Manipur: National People’s Party to withdraw support from Biren Singh govt with immediate effect

Guwahati: The National People’s Party (NPP) has decided to withdraw its support the Biren Singh led Government in the State of Manipur, with immediate effect.

Conrad K. Sangma, National President of NPP and chief minister of Meghalaya in a letter to BJP national President J. P Nadda said, “The National People’s Party would like to convey its deep concern over the prevailing law and order situation in the State of Manipur. In the last few days, we have seen the situation further deteriorate where many more innocent lives have been lost and people in the State are going through immense suffering”.

The letter added, “We strongly feel that the Manipur State Government under the leadership of Biren Singh has completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy. Keeping the current situation in mind, the National People’s Party has decided to

withdraw its support the Biren Singh led Government in the State of Manipur, withimmediate effect”.The NPP in Manipur was battling a rift as seven MLAs were divided over continuing support to the Biren led government.

BJP on its own has the majority. BJP is supporting the NPP led government in Meghalaya.

Last year the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) with two MLAs in the Manipur assembly withdrew its support from the BJP-led state government. In the house of 60, BJP has 37 MLAs while JD(U) has one, there are three independents supporting the government. Five MLAs from. Naga People’s Front (NPF) is supporting the government.

Ten Kuki-Zo tribal MLAs, including seven of the BJP, along with all the leading organisations of the community, have been demanding a separate administration or a Union territory for the tribals in Manipur. Two civilians were killed by suspected militants and their bodies were recovered on Tuesday in Jiribam. Around 10 armed militants were killed in heavy exchange of fire in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Monday. Two CRPF jawans also suffered injuries.During the past two weeks, farmers in a few districts were unable to work in their paddy fields due to the firing of armed attackers from hilltops towards the low-lying fields.Two women — Sapam Ongbi Sonia Devi, belonging to the Meitei community and Sangkim, belonging to the Hmar tribal community – were killed by the suspected armed attackers in the Bishnupur and Jiribam districts, respectively, last week.Ethnic violence-ridden Manipur has been witnessing a series of attacks and violent incidents in different districts including Jiribam district during the past two weeks.The ethnic violence between the non-tribals Meiteis and tribal Kuki-Zo broke out in the northeastern state on May 3 last year after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.So far, over 230 people have been killed in the strife. As many as 11,133 houses have been set on fire, out of which 4,569 homes have been completely destroyed. A total of 11,892 cases have been registered in different police stations in connection with the ethnic violence. The state government has established 302 relief camps to provide shelter to 59,414 internally displaced persons.