N Biren Singh, who resigned as Chief Minister of violence-hit Manipur days before President's Rule with the assembly under animated suspension was imposed, in a long post on X today said the shift in Manipur's demographic balance is not speculation, but "happening before our eyes."
The Kuki tribes, who are dominant in some areas categorised as hill districts in Manipur, hold Mr Singh responsible for the outbreak of clashes in May 2023 over his policies that allegedly targeted the Kuki tribes.
The valley-dominant Meitei community blame an influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar and alleged mushrooming of unrecognised villages across the state as the root cause of the ethnic clashes.
Land rights and political representation are also among issues that have contributed to tensions.
Mr Singh shared an old post from November 8, 2022 showing a 26-year-old Myanmar national who was arrested for carrying the Aadhaar card of an Indian who had died.
"Flashback to 2022: A Myanmar national with a fake Indian Aadhaar card. How many more remain undetected till today?" Mr Singh said in the post.
"Our land and identity are under threat. With a small population and limited resources, we stand vulnerable. I monitored and detected illegal immigration tirelessly until May 2, 2023. But after the tragic events of 3rd May, 2023 our state machinery has struggled to respond effectively.
"An unguarded 398-km border with Myanmar and the Free Movement Regime (FMR) were rapidly shifting Manipur's demographic balance. This is not speculation, it is happening before our eyes. Since our government took charge in March 2017, the challenge has only intensified. After the May 3, 2023 incident, the situation has become even more critical," Mr Singh said.
"Manipur is a small state, with a small population and no significant resources. We have only three MPs to represent us in the nation's highest decision-making body. Yet, we have always stood with pride, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit.
"Illegal immigration continues to be on the rise, threatening the very fabric of our society. So far, we have only identified a fraction of those who have entered our land. But what about the ones who remain undetected to this day? I urge all concerned authorities to take serious note and intensify efforts to detect and deport illegal immigrants from Manipur. As for me, I will continue this fight with unwavering commitment in every way I can," Mr Singh said.
"The challenge before us is not just ours alone, it carries consequences far beyond our borders," he added.
What Next In Manipur
The President's Rule was imposed for the 11th time in Manipur today since 1951.
Sources in the Manipur administration said that for a start, they expect the central security forces to neutralise armed groups, disarm everyone from both sides, open up highways in the hill and valley areas, ensure airport access for all, and work out ways to rebuild, compensate and provide safety for internally displaced people to return home.
A communique from the office of President Droupadi Murmu said after receiving a report from Governor Ajay Bhalla and "after considering the report and other information received by me, I am satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of that State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India".
The move by the Centre came as the state BJP failed to come to a consensus on the chief ministerial candidate and the assembly could not be convened.
The BJP was hoping to pick a chief minister after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from his visit to the US. But meanwhile, the gap in the convening of state assembly threatened to pass the constitutionally approved maximum time of six months.
Article 174(1) of the Constitution says that state assemblies have to be convened no later than six months after their last sitting.
In the case of Manipur, the last sitting was on August 12, 2024. The budget session of the assembly, which was expected to begin on Monday, had to be postponed indefinitely after Mr Singh and his Council of Ministers stepped down.
The deadline for convening the assembly was today and in the evening, President's Rule had to be declared in the state.
