‘Lost Confidence’: NDA Ally Sangma Calls For CM Biren’s Resignation Over Manipur Violence

Last Updated:November 18, 2024, 17:11 IST

Sangma stated that the NPP was open to working with the Manipur government if there was a “change in leadership” and a clear plan to restore peace

Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad Sangma on Monday said his party decided to withdraw support from the BJP-led Manipur government because the NPP have “lost confidence” in Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s leadership over the worsening violence and unrest in the state.

“We felt strongly that seeing the suffering of the people and overall situation not improving any further, we have lost confidence in the current leadership of Biren Singh there that we would not be able to move forward and it will be difficult for NPP to support the Biren Singh Govt,” Sangma said.

Sangma further added that the NPP was open to working with the Manipur government if there was a “change in leadership” and a clear plan to restore peace.

“If we see that there is a change in the leadership and we see that there is a positive step forward, and if we see that there is a plan to move forward to find resolution and we can constructively cooperate and contribute to ensuring that peace and normalcy would return, then we are happy to be working. But we will the situation,” he added.

Sangma’s comments came a day after his party, the NPP, which is the second-largest ally in the ruling coalition in Manipur, announced its decision to withdraw support from the BJP-led government.

The party cited its “deep concern” over the worsening law and order situation in the violence-hit state. Both the NPP and BJP are part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition.

“We strongly feel that the Manipur State Government under the leadership of Shri 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 to the Biren Singh led Government in the State of Manipur, with immediate effect,” Sangma said in a statement on Sunday.

Manipur, which has been grappling with ethnic strife since May last year, remains volatile following protests and violence after the bodies of women and children were recovered. Six people have been missing from a displaced persons’ camp in Jiribam since Monday, following a gunfight between militants and security forces that resulted in the deaths of 10 insurgents.

The bodies of two women and a child were recovered from the Barak River in Jiribam on Saturday, while three other bodies, including those of a woman and two children, were found the previous Friday night.

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Shillong, India