'CM Can Be Removed When...': Amit Shah Reveals Why Biren Singh Continues To Head Govt In Violence-Hit Manipur

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was addressing the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Opposition’s motion of no-confidence against the Centre.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Source : ANI

New Delhi: Amid the Opposition’s demand for imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur under Article 356, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said a sitting chief minister can be changed only when he is not cooperating with the Centre.

Addressing the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Opposition’s motion of no-confidence against the Centre, the Union Home Minister said, “Only when a CM stops cooperating with the Centre, could he be changed. The present (Manipur) CM (N Biren Singh) has been cooperating with us.”

The delegation of Parliamentarians from the Opposition bloc --- I.N.D.I.A --- during its meeting with Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey during its two-day visit to the northeast state, had recommended the imposition of President’s Rule in light of the violence and ethnic clashes.

Countering Amit Shah's remarks, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the Centre and Manipur Chief Minister do not have the courage to concede their mistake and CM N Biren Singh should be removed from his post on moral grounds, news agency ANI reported.

Speaking to the news agency, Gogoi said, "Is this the kind of cooperation being extended by Manipur CM (to the Centre) where arms have been looted from police stations? Home Department and the CM don't have the courage to accept their mistake. 60,000 people are living in shelter camps, and they (the Centre) are saying that the CM is cooperating. Don't want such kind of cooperation, PM Modi should remove the CM on moral grounds."

#WATCH | Is this the kind of cooperation being extended by Manipur CM (to the Centre) where arms have been looted from police stations? Home Department and the CM don't have the courage to accept their mistake. 60,000 people are living in shelter camps, and they (the Centre) are… pic.twitter.com/GBM7hAYTkn

— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2023

Slamming the Opposition over the Manipur issue, Amit Shah said the government is pained by the situation in the strife-torn state, but it is shameful to politicise violence.

“I agree with the opposition's claim that there has been excessive violence in Manipur. In fact, we are more hurt than them (opposition). Such incidents have happened there that we should be ashamed as a society. However, while the incidents are shameful, doing politics on it is even more shameful,” the Union Home Minister said.

He further stated that the government has worked diligently to bring the northeast to mainstream while the UPA did nothing when in power.

"PM Modi has visited the northeast more than 50 times in the last nine years. This shows that the northeast is part of our country. They are questioning us over the northeast when they did nothing for the region,” Amit Shah said.

He further appealed to the Kuki and Meitei communities to not engage in violence and asserted that only dialogue could help find a solution.