Speculations of a recent letter demanding change of leadership in Manipur submitted to the Prime Minister office (PMO) are doing the rounds, while some sources say the said letter was submitted about two months ago and not recent as claimed.
Leaked portions of the said letter showed the first signatures as that of Speaker Th Satyabrata, Ministers Th Bishwajit and Y Khemchand.
While Bishwajit and Khemchand are known dissenters, Speaker Satyabrata was supposed to be a loyalist of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
The letter under the leadership of speaker Th Satyabrata, minister Th Biswajit, Y Khemchand and signed by 19 MLAs of the ruling party was reportedly submitted to Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday, asking him to replace the incumbent chief minister, N Biren Singh, as per sources.
According to a reliable source, the letter was submitted after the first meeting was conducted between Meitei, Kuki and Naga MLAs at Delhi earlier on Tuesday. The letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi was submitted by five MLAs, as per the source.
The letter stated that “At this juncture, the people of Manipur are raising questions to us, in particular the BJP led government, as to why peace and normalcy cannot be restored and plight of people could not be alleviated yet.”
It stated that questions have been raised from the side of the public that MLAs should resign if a solution is not brought soon.
“We as fervent supporters of BJP and having won mandate of people feel that we have a responsibility of saving Manipur along with saving BJP from downfall in Manipur,” it mentioned.
At this particular juncture, they strongly feel that the removal of the present incumbent CM is the only solution, taking a cue from the dynamic of conflict and strife between two communities, the letter said.
It also mentioned that they strongly feel that deployment of security forces alone cannot bring about a solution.
It cautioned that the longer the conflict continues, the more irreparable will be the damage and blot on India as a nation. Only dialogue and meaningful engagement in a multi pronged manner can show the seed for reconciliation and peace, it mentioned.
The MLAs in the letter stated that the need of hour is to examine the crucial factors which are hampering the initiation of dialogue and take action to create the conducive atmosphere to felicitate the same.
“In the light of above facts, we, the undersigned, implore again to take immediate action to start the peace dialogue with all stakeholders to save Manipur before it is too late,” it stated.
The letter signed by 19 MLAs explained that commercial establishments have closed down and shifted location of businesses out of the state as a result of the activities of miscreants and anti-nationals.
Elaborating further on the matter, it mentioned that not only shortage but prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and the inflation rate is at an all time high.
It mentioned that due to restrictions in movement certain sections of people have been rendered jobless. State Revenue Collection and Tax Collection have been greatly hampered, thus affecting the economy badly, it added.
