On June 30th, the capital city of Manipur, Imphal, was gripped by a dramatic display of civil unrest and political uncertainty as a rumour surrounding the Chief Minister (CM) Biren N Singh’s supposed resignation began to circulate. The rumours prompted thousands of demonstrators to take to the streets, effectively obstructing the CM’s convoy from making its way towards the official Raj Bhavan residence.
As thousands flocked around Singh’s residence in an act of solidarity and defiance, women leaders were called upon to appease the crowds. Emerging from the CM’s residence, they made an announcement dispelling the rumours of his resignation and reassuring the masses of Singh’s determination to hold his ground and maintain his position as chief minister. In response, the mob gradually dispersed from his residence, their agitation tempered by the news.
Nonetheless, unconfirmed reports circulated suggesting that a resignation letter had indeed been typed out by Singh, but was torn up following persuasion from his supporters. No official comment on these reports was provided by the Chief Minister’s office.
The sources of these rumours can be traced back to the morning’s undercurrents of speculation, fanned by the escalating violence in the state. The previous day’s clashes resulted in three more casualties and left five injured, raising concerns about Singh’s leadership amid the escalating crisis.
It is important to note that this ongoing crisis has resulted in over 100 lives lost so far, due to ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities of the northeastern state. With the Meiteis comprising about 53% of Manipur’s population, mostly in the Imphal Valley, and the Nagas and Kukis (tribal groups) making up another 40% living in the hill districts, the escalating tension has the potential to destabilise a significant portion of the state’s demographic balance.
In a bid to dispel rumours and maintain order, Singh issued a public statement on social media stating, “At this crucial juncture, I would like to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister.” This further reinforced the assurance given by the women leaders and worked towards de-escalating the tensions. Notably, the demonstration was led by the state’s women, who were seen burning tires in the middle of the road to obstruct police movement.