President's Rule in Manipur disrespects people's mandate: Former CM Ibobi Singh

Manipur Congress termed the imposition of the President's Rule in Manipur as a complete disrespect of the people’s mandate given to the government. 

Addressing the media during a press conference held today at Congress Bhavan, former chief minister, Okram Ibobi Singh strongly condemned the imposition of presidential rule in the state. He observed that the government of India is treating people’s mandate in electing representatives with utter disregard and disrespect.

He continued by saying that the state has a democratically elected government with BJP as the absolute majority. Despite this, central leaders particularly the prime minister, and union home minister taking the decision to impose presidential rule in the state is unfortunate. 

“The way central government is treating and handling the state by imposing presidential rule or suspended animation is not respecting people’s mandate which is intolerable. Congress party feels extremely sorry,” he claimed.

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Ibobi also expressed his resentment over the tendering of the chief minister post by N Biren Singh one day before the budget session of the Manipur Legislative and also right after returning from Delhi after meeting with the union home minister. 

“N Biren Singh's resignation seems to be not in the interest of the people of the state. If he does so, his resignation must have done much before, getting enough time to appoint a new leader so and budget session can be smoothly held. But on contrary to this, he resigned right after coming back from Delhi meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and one day before the budget session of Manipur Legislative Assembly,” he pointed out. 

Ibobi while stating about union government having supreme power in altering, changing and reorganising the boundary of the state as per the constitution, said that the Congress party always stands firm against territorial disintegration of the state at any cost. 

He said that the Indian constitution has the provision of disallowing to break the territorial integrity based on community. Yet the constitution has provided supreme power in changing the boundary of the state. As such people of the state are always concerned territorial integrity of the state.

“Congress knows the people’s concern about the territorial integrity of the state. As such during the UPA regime and even at the time of NDA, we always suggested amending the constitution with regard to boundary reorganisation giving some exceptional condition to Manipur,” he recalled.

Ibobi also strongly condemned the central leader not ending the ongoing conflict which is almost in approaching two years. 

“There is strong machinery in the state. Above that additional forces are also deployed. If the central government is determined, the conflict might have already been resolved. It is questionable that there is any hidden agenda of the conflict,” he stated.

Ibobi urged to end the turmoil, he said that whoever is being appointed as leader, should resolve the conflict and give primary focus on the resettlement of displaced people.