LIVE | BJP's internal crisis lead to imposition of President's rule: Cong leader
The BJP said the Assembly, which was in a suspended animation, could be revived on any future date depending on the ground situation
Security has been beefed up in Manipur following the imposition of the President’s rule in the strife-torn state on February 13.
Though the state has been witnessing ethnic unrest and political turmoil for more than 21 months, the President’s rule was imposed after Chief Minister N Biren Singh tendered his resignation ahead of the no-trust vote by the Congress in the state Assembly.
Also read: Ground report | People in a flux as constitutional crisis grips Manipur
Also read: Manipur ground report: What finally triggered President's Rule?
Security has been tightened considerably throughout the state, especially in the capital city of Imphal, where tension is simmering. Authorities have deployed extra security personnel in sensitive spots, such as the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, to avoid any untoward incident. The Manipur police have increased deployments in sensitive areas like Kangla Gate, Sanjenthong, Moirangkhom, Keisampat, and Konung Mamang.
Five militants nabbed in last 24 hours
Five militants belonging to proscribed outfits have also been arrested from Manipur’s Imphal West, Imphal East and Thoubal districts.
Two active cadres of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Noyon) were apprehended from Thangmeiband and Keishampat in Imphal West on Thursday. Police also arrested another member of the KCP (Noyon) from Khurai Thoudam Leikai in Imphal East.
In another operation, two cadres of KCP (PWG) were arrested from Sangaiyumphal in Thoubal district, he said. Arms and ammunition have also been recovered from the arrested militants, the officer added.
Assembly may be revived in future: BJP
Meanwhile, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining Manipur's territorial integrity, the BJP on Friday said the state Assembly, which was put in a suspended animation following the imposition of President's rule, could be revived on any future date depending on the ground situation.
Sambit Patra, the BJP's northeast region in-charge, told PTI that his party was committed to continuing efforts to maintain peace and normalcy in the state, which has been hit by months-long violence between Meiteis and Kukis and remains polarised along ethnic lines.
He noted that the Assembly had not been dissolved but kept in a suspended animation, meaning that the formation of a new state government remained a possibility.
The BJP continues to enjoy a comfortable majority in the Assembly but the sharpening of ethnic differences meant the party's search for a consensus candidate to replace N Biren Singh, who resigned as the chief minister a few days ago, remained futile.
Live Updates
- 13 Feb 2025 4:03 PM GMT
Revoke President's rule immediately and hold fresh elections: CPI(M)
Manipur CPI(M) said President's rule should be immediately revoked and fresh elections be held at the earliest.
Talking to reporters, CPI(M) state committee secretary Ksh Shanta said the party along with other like-minded parties will stand for the state's territorial integrity during President Rule.
"CPI(M) and all aligned parties will stand for the territorial integrity of the state during President's rule and any attempt to break the state will not be allowed," Shanta added.
She asserted that the selfish quest for power among legislators brought the state to such a situation.
Senior BJP leader Sambit Patra rushed to the CM's secretariat after central rule was announced and stayed there for 40 minutes. However, it is not known if he met Singh
- 13 Feb 2025 3:53 PM GMT
Security agencies on high alert after Prez rule in Manipur: Officials
Security agencies have been put on high alert in Manipur to counter any mischief by banned terror groups here following imposition of President's rule in the state, officials said on Thursday.
There is a heavy deployment of forces within the Imphal valley areas which have seen attacks on police by cadres of Arambai Tenggol group, they said.
Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces will be conducting flag march in Imphal city to ward off any untoward breakdown of law and order, they said.
The officials said security was beefed up in the state, especially the valley, after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh on February 9, after nearly 21 months of ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives so far.
- 13 Feb 2025 3:28 PM GMT
Congress slams Modi govt
The Congress Thursday said it has been demanding imposition of President's rule in strife-torn Manipur for the past 20 months and the Central government did so only after the fabric of state's society was allowed to be "severely damaged".
President's rule was imposed in strife-torn Manipur on Thursday and the state assembly was put under suspended animation, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post that led to political uncertainty in the northeastern state.
"Finally what the Indian National Congress has been demanding for almost 20 months has happened. President's rule has been imposed in Manipur.
"This has come after what the Supreme Court called 'the absolute breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state' that saw the killing of over 300 people and displacement of over 60,000 men, women, and children since May 3, 2023," Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
"This has come after the fabric of Manipur's society has been allowed to be severely damaged if not totally destroyed," he said.
Ramesh said this has come after the BJP and its allies got a huge majority in February 2022, but their politics led to the "colossal tragedy" just 15 months later.
"This has come after the Union Home Minister clearly failed to manage Manipur, which had been entrusted to him by the PM.
"This has come even as the globe-trotting PM steadfastly refuses to visit Manipur and begin the process of reconciliation," the Congress leader said while taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the trouble-torn Manipur.
The Manipur assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
N Biren Singh, who was heading the BJP government in Manipur, resigned as chief minister after nearly 21 months of ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives so far.
He quit on February 9 and submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Imphal, hours after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The decision to impose the central rule was taken after the governor sent a report to President Droupadi Murmu.
- 13 Feb 2025 3:01 PM GMT
'BJP wants to kill democracy'
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "The BJP wants to kill the Democracy...Why was the President's Rule imposed when preparations to bring about the no-confidence motion were being made?..."
