Former Manipur chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday alleged that the ethnic violence in the state was the result of illegal immigration and drug menace.
Singh, who was the chief minister when the state witnessed large-scale violence between the Meitei and Kuku communities, quit the post on February 9 amid heightened political pressure.
"The present crisis is not political at its core and stems from a complex mix of challenges including the drug menace, illegal immigration, destruction of forests, and the systematic pursuit of power by select groups," he said in a social media post.
The northeast is under President’s Rule after Singh resigned as the Bharatiya Janata Party failed to reach a consensus on his successor.
Sharing an old video of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s speech in parliament when he was an MP, Singh asked if he was aware of the alarming rise in the number of illegal villages in the state.
The late Shri P.A. Sangma once advocated for dividing the Northeast into smaller states along ethnic lines, a dangerous idea that threatened the unity of our Nation. Today, we are seeing similar attempts to interfere in Manipur’s internal affairs to destabilise the state.… pic.twitter.com/NMX6zhVrbe
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) March 31, 2025
“After years of effort to safeguard our indigenous populations, we have begun to make real progress such as the implementation of ILP 9Inner Line Permit), a hard-won achievement. Conard Sangma should know that the violence was not spontaneous; it was instigated by those who feel threatened and insecure by this kind of progress,” he said.
In a swipe at the National People's Party (NPP) chief, Singh further said that when others refrained from interfering in Manipur’s internal affairs, some chose a different path, one driven by narrow interests rather than genuine concern.
“Manipur is home to 32 indigenous tribes whose identities, cultures, and way of life deserve protection. Refrain from encouraging illegal immigrants or interfering in matters that threaten this delicate balance. The people of Manipur have endured enough. Let us live in peace,” he said in his long post on X.
More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in Manipur in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
It may be noted that Sangma’s NPP withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Manipur, alleging that the ruling dispensation has failed to restore normalcy in the violence-hit state.
