INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
GUWAHATI: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh called Kuki leaders Saturday for reconciliation and peace in the strife-torn state, saying
"let's forget and forgive", after a sea of supporters stopped him from going to the Raj Bhavan to step down and then tore his resignation
letter the previous day.Singh said he took the decision to quit - which triggered commotion on Imphal - because he felt let down by his own
people who hurled abuses at him the previous night and compelled him to believe that he had lost their trust.In an interview with ANI, the
CM said, "We are making all efforts, at all levels, to restore peace
A few hours ago, I spoke with our Kuki brothers and sisters over the telephone to tell them let's forgive and forget; reconcile and live
together like we always have...Government has only tried to screen the people coming from outside in the wake of Myanmar turmoil and send
them back once the situation improves
Our priority is to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur."He said: "I doubted if we have lost the trust of people
Thinking about this made me feel bad...Abusive language was used by a small group against me a few days ago at a market
It didn't feel good...So, I decided this." He rescinded his decision when he "stepped out (of his house) and there was a huge crowd on the
streets, crying and showing their trust in me"
"They told me not to resign
If they tell me to resign, I will, if they tell me not to, I won't."In his message to the people, he said, "We are one
Manipur is a small state but we have 34 tribes
All of these 34 tribes have to live together...We just have to be careful that not many people from outside should come and settle here so
that there is no demographic imbalance...As the CM, I promise you I won't allow Manipur to break or allow separate administration
I will sacrifice to keep everyone as one."Singh said he is still unsure about the reason behind the ethnic strife
The high court had asked for my government's opinion if the Meitei community should or should not be included as a Scheduled Tribe
There was four weeks' time, but in the meantime all these happened."Asked if he sees a foreign hand, Singh said: "Manipur is a neighbour of
Our border, 398km are porous, unguarded
There are Indian security forces, but such a large area can't be guarded...Going by what is happening, we can neither deny nor vehemently
affirm...It seems planned but the reason is not open..."
