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Tag: N Biren Singh

  • Replying to RSS chief’s question, Manipur tribal body claims CM Biren Singh instigated ethnic strife

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), an organisation of the Kuki-Zo community, on Tuesday alleged that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has “instigated” the ethnic strife in the northeastern state which began in early May.

    Commenting on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remark that Meiteis and Kukis, the two warring communities in the state, were living together for a long time, the ITLF asked why no clashes had taken place between the two sides before the present government started ruling the state in March 2017.

    Addressing the RSS Dussehra rally at Nagpur earlier in the day, Bhagwat said, “Who actually fuelled the conflict? It (violence) is not happening, it is being made to happen.”

    In a statement, the ITLF alleged that the answer to his question is Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

    The tribal organisation also raised a series of questions on the Manipur situation such as why AFSPA was recently removed only in valley areas and not in hill districts.

    While the Meitis live mainly in the Imphal Valley, Kukis are in majority in hills districts.

    Another question raised by the ITLF is: “Why was the government notification of 1966 regarding ‘reserved’ and ‘protected’ forests under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 suddenly implemented in 2023?” 

    The strife in Manipur was preceded by protests by tribals against a drive by the state government to evict them from reserve forest areas.

    “What Manipur witnessed in the past few years was a highly coordinated assault on the rights and protections that tribals enjoyed under the constitution,” The ITLF statement read.

    More than 180 people have been killed and several hundreds injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

    Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.

    Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    IMPHAL: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), an organisation of the Kuki-Zo community, on Tuesday alleged that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has “instigated” the ethnic strife in the northeastern state which began in early May.

    Commenting on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remark that Meiteis and Kukis, the two warring communities in the state, were living together for a long time, the ITLF asked why no clashes had taken place between the two sides before the present government started ruling the state in March 2017.

    Addressing the RSS Dussehra rally at Nagpur earlier in the day, Bhagwat said, “Who actually fuelled the conflict? It (violence) is not happening, it is being made to happen.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In a statement, the ITLF alleged that the answer to his question is Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

    The tribal organisation also raised a series of questions on the Manipur situation such as why AFSPA was recently removed only in valley areas and not in hill districts.

    While the Meitis live mainly in the Imphal Valley, Kukis are in majority in hills districts.

    Another question raised by the ITLF is: “Why was the government notification of 1966 regarding ‘reserved’ and ‘protected’ forests under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 suddenly implemented in 2023?” 

    The strife in Manipur was preceded by protests by tribals against a drive by the state government to evict them from reserve forest areas.

    “What Manipur witnessed in the past few years was a highly coordinated assault on the rights and protections that tribals enjoyed under the constitution,” The ITLF statement read.

    More than 180 people have been killed and several hundreds injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

    Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.

    Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Manipur violence: action of forces against students will be punished, says CM Biren Singh

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Saturday iterated that security personnel involved in the “excessive use of force” against students during a crackdown on a protest rally here in connection with the alleged killing of two students will be punished.

    He appealed to the people to remain united, maintain calm and collectively fight the enemies of the state, which has witnessed ethnic violence.

    Expressing shock over the incident in the Imphal area which more than 100 students were injured in clashes with security forces on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, Singh, who was speaking at the sidelines of a programme here, said “I am really shocked at the excessive use of force. At what was done to the children. Ministers of the state have personally met the injured students.”

    “Those responsible for the extreme injuries will be arrested and be dealt with legally,” the chief minister said.

    Two students were seriously injured in the clash between the state police and the Rapid Action Force during two consecutive days.

    One of them received more than 40 pellet bullets on his skull fired by security persons and another, 17-year-old L Kishan’s shoulder was shattered by pellets fired from a close range, authorities of the hospital where the two are being treated told reporters.

    “Rs 50,000 has been provided as financial assistance to the badly injured students for treatment. Hospitals have also been informed that expenses for all their requirements will be borne by the government, including those who need to be taken outside Manipur,” the chief minister added.

    The crackdown followed the massive protests by students against the alleged killing of two youths who went missing on July 6.

    Photos of their bodies went viral on social media recently triggering the protests and leading to the sending of a CBI team from Delhi to the state for enquiry.

    “A CBI special director is still in Imphal and an investigation is on,” Singh said.

    Paying his respects to ‘Jana Neta’ Hijam Irabot, the founder of the Communist party in the state, on his 127th birth anniversary at the programme, he said.

    “On this day, I want to urge all again to remain calm, stay united and collectively fight the enemies of the state. To come and sit together to resolve all misunderstandings so as to protect the integrity of the state and to live peacefully,” he said.

    READ MORE | Manipur govt calls for restraint after photos showing ‘bodies’ of two missing students surface

    ALSO READ: Meitei Committee condemns ‘brutal’ assault on protesting students by security personnel

    IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Saturday iterated that security personnel involved in the “excessive use of force” against students during a crackdown on a protest rally here in connection with the alleged killing of two students will be punished.

    He appealed to the people to remain united, maintain calm and collectively fight the enemies of the state, which has witnessed ethnic violence.

    Expressing shock over the incident in the Imphal area which more than 100 students were injured in clashes with security forces on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, Singh, who was speaking at the sidelines of a programme here, said “I am really shocked at the excessive use of force. At what was done to the children. Ministers of the state have personally met the injured students.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Those responsible for the extreme injuries will be arrested and be dealt with legally,” the chief minister said.

    Two students were seriously injured in the clash between the state police and the Rapid Action Force during two consecutive days.

    One of them received more than 40 pellet bullets on his skull fired by security persons and another, 17-year-old L Kishan’s shoulder was shattered by pellets fired from a close range, authorities of the hospital where the two are being treated told reporters.

    “Rs 50,000 has been provided as financial assistance to the badly injured students for treatment. Hospitals have also been informed that expenses for all their requirements will be borne by the government, including those who need to be taken outside Manipur,” the chief minister added.

    The crackdown followed the massive protests by students against the alleged killing of two youths who went missing on July 6.

    Photos of their bodies went viral on social media recently triggering the protests and leading to the sending of a CBI team from Delhi to the state for enquiry.

    “A CBI special director is still in Imphal and an investigation is on,” Singh said.

    Paying his respects to ‘Jana Neta’ Hijam Irabot, the founder of the Communist party in the state, on his 127th birth anniversary at the programme, he said.

    “On this day, I want to urge all again to remain calm, stay united and collectively fight the enemies of the state. To come and sit together to resolve all misunderstandings so as to protect the integrity of the state and to live peacefully,” he said.

    READ MORE | Manipur govt calls for restraint after photos showing ‘bodies’ of two missing students surface

    ALSO READ: Meitei Committee condemns ‘brutal’ assault on protesting students by security personnel

  • Breaking curfew, mob tries to attack Manipur CM’s ancestral house; security forces foil attempt

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: A mob tried to attack Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s empty ancestral house on Thursday night, despite a security clampdown and curfew in the Imphal valley.

    Security forces, however, were successful in foiling the attempt after firing in the air. Singh lives in a separate, well-guarded official residence in the centre of the state’s capital.

    “There was an attempt to attack the chief minister’s ancestral house at Heingang locality in Imphal. Security forces stopped the mob around 100-150 metres away from the house,” a police officer said.

    Nobody stays in the house now though it too is guarded round the clock, the officer said.

    The police officer said, “Two groups of people came from different directions and approached the CM’s ancestral residence but they were stopped.”

    Several rounds of tear gas shells were fired by RAF and state police personnel to disperse the mob. The authorities switched off the electricity connection in the entire area to help reduce the visibility of the protestors. More barricades were added to the previous ones near the house. The protestors also burnt tyres in the middle of the nearby road.

    Ambulances were seen advancing near the spot but till now there is no report of injury to any side.

    The incident occurred amid violent protests by students over the death of two youths in Manipur rocked the state capital on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    A mob vandalised the deputy commissioner’s office in Imphal West district and torched two four-wheelers in the early hours of Thursday.

    Curfew was re-imposed in the two districts, Imphal East and West, on Wednesday as the security forces combatted the violent protests, which saw 65 demonstrators being injured since Tuesday.

    A fresh bout of violence broke out in the state capital on Tuesday, a day after photos of the bodies of two youths – a man and a girl – who went missing in July went viral on social media.

    Earlier, houses of several ministers were attacked in Manipur which has been witnessing ethnic strife for nearly five months.

    READ HERE:

    Meitei Committee condemns ‘brutal’ assault on protesting students by security personnel

    Militants openly instigating mobs in strife-torn Manipur cause concern for security agencies

    Parents of murdered Meitei Manipuri youths request govt to locate kids’ remains for last rites

    IMPHAL: A mob tried to attack Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s empty ancestral house on Thursday night, despite a security clampdown and curfew in the Imphal valley.

    Security forces, however, were successful in foiling the attempt after firing in the air. Singh lives in a separate, well-guarded official residence in the centre of the state’s capital.

    “There was an attempt to attack the chief minister’s ancestral house at Heingang locality in Imphal. Security forces stopped the mob around 100-150 metres away from the house,” a police officer said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    Nobody stays in the house now though it too is guarded round the clock, the officer said.

    The police officer said, “Two groups of people came from different directions and approached the CM’s ancestral residence but they were stopped.”

    Several rounds of tear gas shells were fired by RAF and state police personnel to disperse the mob. The authorities switched off the electricity connection in the entire area to help reduce the visibility of the protestors. More barricades were added to the previous ones near the house. The protestors also burnt tyres in the middle of the nearby road.

    Ambulances were seen advancing near the spot but till now there is no report of injury to any side.

    The incident occurred amid violent protests by students over the death of two youths in Manipur rocked the state capital on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    A mob vandalised the deputy commissioner’s office in Imphal West district and torched two four-wheelers in the early hours of Thursday.

    Curfew was re-imposed in the two districts, Imphal East and West, on Wednesday as the security forces combatted the violent protests, which saw 65 demonstrators being injured since Tuesday.

    A fresh bout of violence broke out in the state capital on Tuesday, a day after photos of the bodies of two youths – a man and a girl – who went missing in July went viral on social media.

    Earlier, houses of several ministers were attacked in Manipur which has been witnessing ethnic strife for nearly five months.

    READ HERE:

    Meitei Committee condemns ‘brutal’ assault on protesting students by security personnel

    Militants openly instigating mobs in strife-torn Manipur cause concern for security agencies

    Parents of murdered Meitei Manipuri youths request govt to locate kids’ remains for last rites

  • Mobile internet services in Manipur to be restored, says CM N Biren Singh

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that mobile internet services, which were suspended after ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3, will be restored from Saturday.

    He also called for the cancellation of the free movement regime that allows people residing close to both sides of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km deep into each other’s territory without any document.

    Addressing a press conference here, Singh said, “The government had suspended mobile internet services on May 3 to check the spread of fake news, propaganda and hate speech. However, with the improvement of the situation, mobile internet services will be restored across the state from today.”

    He said the government will continue to deal with the influx of “illegal immigrants” and stressed the need for fencing the India-Myanmar border.

    READ MORE | End Manipur violence or forget Acting East

    IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that mobile internet services, which were suspended after ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3, will be restored from Saturday.

    He also called for the cancellation of the free movement regime that allows people residing close to both sides of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km deep into each other’s territory without any document.

    Addressing a press conference here, Singh said, “The government had suspended mobile internet services on May 3 to check the spread of fake news, propaganda and hate speech. However, with the improvement of the situation, mobile internet services will be restored across the state from today.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He said the government will continue to deal with the influx of “illegal immigrants” and stressed the need for fencing the India-Myanmar border.

    READ MORE | End Manipur violence or forget Acting East

  • Key BJP meet amid rift in Manipur unit, CM says discussed ‘Mann Ki Baat’

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI:  The BJP held a meeting in Manipur as four MLAs resigned from their administrative posts triggering speculation of a crisis in the ruling party in the state. The meeting was reportedly convened at the direction of the central leadership. 

    Sources said that barring one, all legislators, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh, party’s Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra and state leaders attended the meet. The CM, however, said the meeting was called to discuss preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 100th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on April 30.

    READ HERE | Manipur: Fourth BJP MLA resigns from administrative post

    “Attended a meeting presided over by the National Spokesperson of BJP, Shri @sambitswaraj Ji in the presence of the President, BJP Manipur Pradesh, Smt @AShardaDevi ji, Ministers, MLAs, and karyakartas at the state BJP head office to deliberate on the ongoing preparations of the 100th edition of Mann Ki Baat which will be broadcasted worldwide on April 30, 2023,” the CM tweeted.

    Attended a meeting presided over by the National Spokesperson of BJP, Shri @sambitswaraj Ji in the presence of the President, BJP Manipur Pradesh, Smt @AShardaDevi ji, Ministers, MLAs, and karyakartas at the state BJP head office to deliberate on the ongoing preparations of the… pic.twitter.com/Cv9CPdsQuv
    — N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) April 27, 2023
    Four MLAs — retired IPS officer Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, Karam Shyam, P Brojen Singh and Kh Raghumani Singh — have resigned from their respective administrative posts in the past fortnight. Radheshyam and Shyam, both former ministers, had resigned as advisors to the CM and chairman of Tourism Corporation Manipur Limited respectively as they were not given any responsibility.

    Raghumani, who is a retired IAS officer, had quit as the chairman of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency for “personal reasons and in public interest” while Brojen, the chairman of Manipur Development Society, resigned on “personal grounds”. 

    GUWAHATI:  The BJP held a meeting in Manipur as four MLAs resigned from their administrative posts triggering speculation of a crisis in the ruling party in the state. The meeting was reportedly convened at the direction of the central leadership. 

    Sources said that barring one, all legislators, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh, party’s Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra and state leaders attended the meet. The CM, however, said the meeting was called to discuss preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 100th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on April 30.

    READ HERE | Manipur: Fourth BJP MLA resigns from administrative postgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Attended a meeting presided over by the National Spokesperson of BJP, Shri @sambitswaraj Ji in the presence of the President, BJP Manipur Pradesh, Smt @AShardaDevi ji, Ministers, MLAs, and karyakartas at the state BJP head office to deliberate on the ongoing preparations of the 100th edition of Mann Ki Baat which will be broadcasted worldwide on April 30, 2023,” the CM tweeted.

    Attended a meeting presided over by the National Spokesperson of BJP, Shri @sambitswaraj Ji in the presence of the President, BJP Manipur Pradesh, Smt @AShardaDevi ji, Ministers, MLAs, and karyakartas at the state BJP head office to deliberate on the ongoing preparations of the… pic.twitter.com/Cv9CPdsQuv
    — N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) April 27, 2023
    Four MLAs — retired IPS officer Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, Karam Shyam, P Brojen Singh and Kh Raghumani Singh — have resigned from their respective administrative posts in the past fortnight. Radheshyam and Shyam, both former ministers, had resigned as advisors to the CM and chairman of Tourism Corporation Manipur Limited respectively as they were not given any responsibility.

    Raghumani, who is a retired IAS officer, had quit as the chairman of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency for “personal reasons and in public interest” while Brojen, the chairman of Manipur Development Society, resigned on “personal grounds”. 

  • Biren Singh sworn in as Manipur CM, five others take oath as cabinet ministers

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: BJP legislature party leader N Biren Singh was Monday sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur for the second time at the Raj Bhavan here.

    Singh, along with five cabinet ministers, were administered oath by Governor La Ganesan.

    Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Kiren Rijiju had on Sunday handed over a letter to Ganesan, stating that Singh was elected unanimously as the leader of the BJP legislature party with 32 MLAs.

    The governor then invited Singh to form the next government in Manipur.

  • N Biren Singh to continue as Chief Minister of Manipur

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: N Biren Singh will continue as the chief minister of Manipur. With this, the week-long suspense on who will occupy the hot seat ended. Singh’s name as the CM was announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after a closed-door meeting with all BJP MLAs of the state.Sitharaman and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju were sent to the state as the BJP’s central observer and co-observer respectively.Sitahraman told journalists that it was a unanimous decision. She hoped the decision would go a long way in Manipur’s stability and good governance. She was also optimistic that there would be a very good government.Singh and senior leader Thongam Biswajit were the frontrunners for the post. The duo arrived in the state earlier in the day from Delhi along with the two observers and others.Their names were doing the rounds for the past one week. They visited Delhi twice on being summoned by the party’s central leadership and held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and party stalwart BL Santhosh.The BJP had a stunning performance under Singh, winning 32 of the 60 seats in the Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on March 10.

  • Assembly polls 2022: BJP ahead in Manipur, early trends show

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: The BJP was leading in 23 seats and the Congress in 12 constituencies in the initial rounds of counting of votes in Manipur.

    Counting of votes for 60 assembly seats in Manipur began at 8 am on Thursday under tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, officials said.

    According to early trends available from all the 60 constituencies, the BJP was ahead in 23 seats, the Congress in 12 and the NPP in 11.

    As per the official figure of the Election Commission, the BJP was ahead in 16 seats, the National People’s Party in six, the Congress in five and the JD(U) in three constituencies.

    The newly formed Kuki People’s Alliance and an Independent candidate led in one constituency each.

    Chief Minister N Biren Singh led with a huge margin of 8,574 votes against his nearest Congress rival in the Heingang constituency, while former CM and CLP leader O Ibobi Singh was ahead by a margin of 472 votes against BJP’s L Basanta.

    Congress president N Loken Singh trailed by 4,426 votes against BJP candidate Th Basanta, the EC data showed.

  • Seeking re-election for fifth consecutive term, Manipur CM N Biren Singh files nomination

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh filed his nomination papers on Saturday.

    He is seeking re-election for the fifth consecutive term from his Heingang Assembly constituency in Imphal East district.

    “It gives me immense pleasure to file the nomination as the BJP candidate from Heingang AC at the Office of Returning Officer today. I was joined by Smt. @AShardaDevi Ji, Pres. @BJP4Manipur,” Singh tweeted.

    He wished good luck to all BJP candidates filing nominations for the two-phase polls scheduled for February 27 and March 3.

    Singh was elected to the Assembly for three straight terms from 2002 on a Congress ticket. Prior to the 2017 polls, he had defected to the BJP and went on to become the CM.

    In that election, the BJP had won 21 seats as against the Congress’ 28 but managed to cobble up the numbers to form a coalition government.

  • Incidents of Myanmarese influx into Manipur not reported so far: CM Biren Singh

    By ANI
    IMPHAL: Amid ongoing violence in Myanmar after the military coup last month, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that incidents of the influx of people from Myanmar into Manipur has not been reported so far.

    He further said that security forces are put on alert at the borders. “Till now, there is no information about the influx (of Myanmarese) into the state. We have deployed and alerted the security at the border. The matter is a bilateral issue between India and Myanmar. The state cannot take any action on this issue,” said Singh.

    The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday asked four northeastern states- Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh- to take appropriate action as per law to prevent a possible influx of people from Myanmar into India.

    The MHA also said that it has been reported that illegal influx from Myanmar has started and agencies have been asked to identify migrants and initiate the deportation processes without delay.

    The Home Ministry reiterated that state governments and Union Territory (UT) administrations have no power to grant “refugee” status to any foreigner as India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

    The military toppled Myanmar’s elected government on February 1 and launched a massive crackdown on anti-coup protesters, shutting down the internet and arresting hundreds of people, including the state counsellor, de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and the figurehead president.

    Violence against protesters has so far left over 60 people dead and more than 1,800 people arrested.