Congress Leader P Chidambaram Blames CM N Biren Singh For Manipur Crisis

In a scathing social media post, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram asserted that the state of affairs in Manipur has deteriorated significantly, with the populace losing trust in the BJP-led state government and Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

"In fact, the Chief Minister is the problem because of his incompetence and bias," P Chidambaram posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

These biting remarks were prompted by the emergence of photos depicting the lifeless bodies of two teenagers found sprawled on the ground within what seemed to be an armed group's encampment, as reported on Monday. This incident marks the latest in a series of tragic events stemming from the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The two teenagers had been reported missing since July 6th.

P Chidambaram asserted that the initial and crucial move towards reinstating normalcy in Manipur is to remove the government and the Chief Minister.

"I have learned that 2000 Meiteis staying in Senapati District were forcibly driven out the district. Ethnic cleansing has spread from the capital to the districts whether they are dominated by the Meiteis or the Kukis. The central government has switched off Manipur. It may have even lost count that 145 days have passed since the cycle of violence started on May 3, 2023," he said.

On the morning of July 6, the 17-year-old girl ventured out of her home to attend NEET classes for pre-medical studies. This decision was made during a brief relaxation of the curfew. Accompanied by a friend, they chose to traverse the primary road linking Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts. It's worth noting that this region had witnessed intense gunfights and numerous fatalities during the months of May and June.

Following their failure to return home, the parents of the two teenagers filed complaints with two separate police stations.

According to reports, the teenagers headed in the direction of Nambol, which is approximately 16 km from Imphal. During the investigation, it was discovered that the mobile phones of the two teenagers were turned off at locations that were 18 km apart from each other.

The case has ignited widespread outrage across the country, with numerous individuals questioning why it took the police so long to solve it.

According to sources with direct knowledge of the matter, the investigators are expected to employ advanced cyber forensics tools to enhance the clarity of the images and ascertain the identities of the two men seen in the background, as reported by NDTV.

The government has pledged to take "swift and decisive action" against anyone implicated in the abduction and murder of the students. It has appealed to the public to remain composed and allow the investigators to carry out their duties. Several weeks ago, the government had also referred this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Ethnic strife erupted on May 3 between the Kuki tribes, predominantly residing in the hills, and the Meiteis, who are the majority in the valley. The unrest was triggered by a Kuki protest in response to the Meiteis' call for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. Regrettably, this conflict has resulted in the loss of over 180 lives and the displacement of thousands within the region.