After much ruckus, Chief Minister N Biren Singh finally withdrew his resignation as thousands of women from various women organisations halted him from submitting his resignation to the Governor of Manipur on Friday.
Upon receiving the news of the possibility of N Biren's resignation, these women gathered in front of the CM's secretariat from 11 am onwards, determined to prevent his departure.
As Biren's convoy attempted to leave the secretariat and head towards the Raj Bhawan to submit his resignation, thousands of protesting women swiftly intercepted and stopped his progress.
WATCH: Manipur's chief minister N Biren Singh almost resigned | Imphal Free Press
Forced to reconsider, Biren's convoy was compelled to turn back and return to the secretariat due to the resolute actions of the womenfolk.
Under mounting pressure from the determined women, the chief minister's resignation letter was later presented to the public by Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, ministers Govindas Konthoujam, Th Basanta, and L Susindro, as well as BJP MLAs.
Minister L Susindro proceeded to read out the contents of the resignation letter, following which two women volunteers symbolically tore it apart in front of the gathered crowd.
The resonating slogan, "We want Biren," reverberated through the surroundings, signalling the immense support for the embattled chief minister.
The crowd of women gradually dispersed around 3 pm, with the demonstration deemed a resounding success.
With the torn resignation letter surfacing online, Chief Minister Biren Singh clarified on Friday evening that he will not be resigning.
"At this crucial juncture, I wish to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister," N Biren Singh said in a tweet.
The remarkable display of collective action by the womenfolk of Manipur has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the political landscape of the state, signalling their commitment to stability and their refusal to accept the resignation of chief minister N Biren amidst the ongoing challenges faced by the people of Manipur.
The womenfolk justified their actions by stating that it is not the appropriate time for the chief minister to step down, considering the ongoing unrest in Manipur.
They emphasised that Biren should take it upon himself as his duty to restore peace in the state. "We will not allow him to resign. Instead, Biren should assume the initiative in resolving the crisis," declared one of the women protesters.
In addition to preventing the chief minister's resignation, the women protesters also opposed the imposition of a five-day total shutdown of Khwairamband Bazar, which was announced by an organisation.
They argued that the market should remain open in the light of the war-like situation to prevent economic ruin.
One of the protesters further stressed the importance of supporting elected representatives in addressing the issues through political means rather than resorting to attacks. "This is not the time to create conflicts among ourselves; it is a time for unification," she added.
Meanwhile, curfew relaxation timings in Imphal East and Imphal West have been shortened from 5 am to 2 pm, as against the previous time frame of 5 am to 7 pm.
Also Read: Women protesters throng Nupi Lal Complex to prevent Manipur CM Biren resignation
Women vendors of Kakching Bazar under Kakching bazar business welfare association (KBBWA) also protested to prevent Chief Minister N Biren from resigning from his position at National Highway 137(A) in front of Ibudhou Naohallai Laibung in Kakching bazar.
KBBWA president Nongmaithem Sanatomba @Chaoton said that CM cannot resign from his position leaving the state in turmoil. He must use all his power to revive peace and normalcy in the state and must save the innocent civilians from the Kuki militants, added the president.
