It took nearly 21 months of ethnic violence in Manipur that killed over 250 people and displaced over 75,000, for Nongthombam Biren Singh to resign as the chief minister. The ethnic violence played a major role in his downfall. His leadership was called into question after leaked audio tapes allegedly linked him to the unrest. The Supreme Court’s decision to seek a forensic examination of these tapes intensified scrutiny of him.
Another reason behind his resignation is believed to be the no-confidence motion that the Congress had planned to introduce in the Manipur Assembly session and reportedly due to the growing dissatisfaction of BJP MLAs with his leadership. Singh’s resignation may have been the result of a combination of factors.
While the resignation of Singh may pave the way for dialogue in Manipur, achieving a meaningful breakthrough is likely to be a long drawn process as the state and its people will take a long time to heal their wounds. It is left to the central government who had once made a mistake to dismiss the civil war-like situation in Manipur as a localised incident, to initiate a comprehensive process to foster reconciliation and restore lasting peace.
In providing solace to the shattered homes of many it is important to ensure that a decisive action against individuals responsible for mayhem, sexual violence, and arson be brought to justice. The second part lies in strengthening the community for conflict resolution by addressing the social, economic, and cultural concerns on both sides as these tensions have been worsened by disputes over economic benefits and job quota.
Early peace-making initiative in Manipur through a committee on June 10, 2023 has failed. The centre therefore must pick the right leaders from both sides to make confidence-building a success and to bridge the trust gap between the two communities.
Manipur is awash with sophisticated firearms and explosives that have posed a constant threat to civilians and security forces alike. In a press conference last year, the Chief of Army Staff claimed to have recovered 30% of the estimated 5,600 arms and over 650,000 rounds of ammunition that were previously looted from local police stations and state armouries. The government must implement robust measures to address the proliferation of looted arms in the hands of militant groups and restore public safety.
The destruction of a significant number of poppy fields underscores the government’s dedication to a drug-free Manipur but also a crucial step towards dislocating the financial networks that support militancy. Economic development initiatives inclusive for both the communities and preserving the unique traditions of each community that could foster mutual respect and understanding could be steps towards a sustained commitment to bring about peace in the state.
The resignation of Singh alone will not rekindle the hope for peace but a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes of the conflict that will heal the wounds of Manipur.
