Elected govt in Manipur after Central leaderships’ assessment: Ex-CM Biren

The Central leadership is likely assessing the condition to facilitate the return of an elected government in the state, said state BJP leader and former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh who hoped of reinstatement of the popular government in the state soon on Saturday.
Manipur is currently under President’s Rule since February 13 after N Biren Singh resigned as the chief minister on February 9 putting the state Assembly under suspended animation.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event related to a release of a book on Emergency 1975 at state BJP head office in Imphal, Singh said that full efforts are being put in to establish a popular government in the state.
“We are working to form a government at the earliest. We are a national party. The Central leadership is assessing the situation. I believe a government will be formed soon,” he said. Not only the BJP, but its allies have the desire to reinstate a popular government as well, he said, adding that the PR was imposed in the state due to the situation.
Singh continued, “We, BJP, haven’t criticized anybody. We are concentrating only on the present crisis. We are approaching the Central government and concerned persons to bring an amicable solution and peace in the state.”
The former chief minister maintained that the BJP MLAs were holding meetings frequently to work out ways to restore the popular government.
At the same time, Singh said that peace was compulsory for restoration of the popular government. Union home minister Amit Shah was trying day and night to restore peace in the state. In the last seven eight months, there have been no reports of fighting between communities, he added.
On a comment on the issue of illegal immigration raised by a Mizoram minister recently, Singh welcomed the concern and said it could lead to better coordination among northeastern states.
Recently, Mizoram home minister K Sapdanga expressed deep concern over the rising crime rate in the state, revealing that more than 50 per cent of recent criminal cases are linked to individuals who have taken refuge in Mizoram from neighbouring countries and other Indian states.
Singh expressed his willingness to cooperate with neighbouring states in tackling infiltration collectively. “I have said earlier that illegal immigrants and drug cartels have affected the entire northeast as well as the whole nation. Slowly, everyone has come to understand this issue. This change is a positive sign and together we can fight these elements,” the former chief minister said.