Too little, too late

Amid the euphoria over its resounding win in the Delhi elections, the BJP has started the process of repairing its battered double engine in strife-torn Manipur. Chief Minister N Biren Singh has finally stepped down, over a month after he tendered a public apology and expressed regret over the deaths and displacement caused by the unrest in the northeastern state. If Biren thought he had done enough to save his chair merely by saying sorry, he was proven wrong. The last straw was the leak of some audio tapes, which include telephonic conversations that purportedly lay bare his role in inciting ethnic violence. All eyes and ears are on the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, which has been ordered by the Supreme Court to verify the authenticity of the tapes and submit a report next month. In a bid to pre-empt possible embarrassment and outrage, the BJP has prodded Biren to put in his papers. This is practically an escape route for him, considering the gravity of the allegations against him.

Much damage has already been done, and his resignation has come too late in the day. Ethnic violence has claimed over 250 lives in Manipur since May 2023, with both the Central and state governments failing to handle the volatile situation. Biren remained in the saddle even when Imphal burned, while the party top brass kept ignoring the growing clamour for his ouster. What’s worse, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen to stay away from the state, giving the impression that Manipur is just a blip on the Centre’s radar.

A new CM will not make much of a difference on the ground as long as there is a lack of political will to resolve the conflict and bring the perpetrators to book. The people of Manipur are impatiently awaiting justice and peace. The onus is on the Modi government to regain their trust.