Manipur’s Tension Escalates: Opposition Demands Immediate Peace as Biren Singh Resigns

Manipur,India: In a dramatic turn of events, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has resigned, but opposition leaders and ethnic groups on both sides of the divide see little hope for change. Despite Singh’s exit, ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities remain unresolved, with at least 250 lives lost and over 60,000 displaced over the past two years.

Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, criticized Singh’s delayed resignation, arguing that the decision was too little, too late. Gandhi accused Singh of instigating division, and Kharge emphasized the BJP government's failure in handling the crisis. They both called for immediate intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has not visited Manipur since 2022.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), representing the Kuki-Zo community, remains firm in its demand for a separate administration, suggesting that Singh's resignation was driven by political survival rather than a genuine effort to resolve the conflict. The Meitei community, led by organizations like the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, voiced concerns that Singh’s resignation could embolden Kuki separatist forces, exacerbating the crisis.

While the Kuki National Organisation expressed cautious optimism that Singh’s departure may open the door for renewed peace talks, the political turmoil continues to deepen. The state remains in a fragile state, with the future of Manipur’s peace still uncertain.