Biren Singh was the Chief Minister of Manipur for way too long after violence broke out in the state. His delayed exit has made it harder to bring peace. The first step now? Recovering the stolen weapons.
Here are five key points about what happened and what comes next:
- **Too Late to Step Down**
Singh should have resigned much earlier. The violence in Manipur started almost 21 months ago, and as CM, it was his job to bring things under control. Instead, his actions made things worse, leading to more fights, deaths, and destruction.
- **Peace Won’t Be Easy**
Now that he’s gone, there’s a chance to solve the crisis, but it will be really difficult. The two main communities in Manipur—Kukis and Meiteis—are completely divided. Both have weapons, and both want different things. The Kukis want more autonomy, but the Meiteis don’t want the state to be split. The central government will have to work carefully to find a middle ground.
- **Weapons Must Be Recovered**
During the violence, armed groups from both sides stole weapons from the police and security forces. Also, Manipur’s police force was accused of favoring one side over the other. Without recovering the stolen guns and fixing the police system, peace talks won’t go anywhere.
- **Myanmar’s Role**
The crisis in Myanmar might have played a role in Singh’s removal. A rebel group, the Arakan Army, has taken control of parts of Myanmar near India. This means India can’t rely on Myanmar’s army to stop weapons and fighters from crossing into Manipur. Singh’s removal might have been necessary to prevent things from getting even worse.
- **What Happens Next?**
It’s unclear if a new Chief Minister will be chosen or if the central government will take direct control. Either way, the new leadership has a tough job—rebuilding trust between the Kukis and Meiteis. This will need support from the army, police, local leaders, and politicians. It won’t be easy, but Singh’s exit is at least a first step.
Manipur’s future depends on how well its leaders handle this crisis now.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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