Chief Minister of Manipur N Brain Singh Saying on Thursday that he is a leader and protector of all communities in the state, except illegal immigrants and drug dealers, he rejected suggestions that he step down in light of the recent uptick in violence because he is critical. Groups have lost trust and allies

Singh’s comments came days after he resigned from the government amid growing clamor for his ouster amid renewed agitation in the state, which has been rocked by the killing of 10 suspects in a National People’s Party (NPP) encounter. Come forward. Cookie Militant And the kidnapping and killing of six Meitei women and children.

Ethnic clashes in the northeastern state first erupted on May 3, 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities and have since killed 240 people, involving almost every group. Since the early days of the controversy, Singh has resisted calls for her resignation, not only from the Kuki community – she is a Meite – but also from her own party leaders.

“I am the elected Chief Minister of Manipur and represent all the indigenous people of the state. Their indigenous legislators are also members of the House of which I am the leader. I am here to protect them but…I am not an illegal immigrant. I am not the chief minister of people who bring drugs into India,” he said, asking if he had lost the trust of the Kuki community.

Read more: 10 tribal MLAs from Manipur have planned a joint protest in Delhi.

He also rejected the demands of imposing President’s rule in the state. The present government in Manipur has the mandate of the people. The government is working to restore peace but vested interests including the opposition, drug mafia and illegal immigrants do not want us here. The opposition thinks it has a chance to come back to power and is thus demanding President’s rule,” he said.

He further said that the state government along with the center will find these miscreants, terrorists and bring the situation back to normal.

As violence has escalated in recent weeks, the Center has sent 70 additional companies of paramilitary personnel – about 9,000 personnel – to the state, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah presiding over two special meetings until Sunday. PP has separated from the government. Although Singh’s government is numerically safe, the withdrawal has fueled speculation that further political upheaval is about to begin.

Singh rejected these speculations.

“Our government is stable and we have the required numbers. But this is not the time to talk about numbers. Some people may have left when we are going through this phase but we will come out stronger. This is not the time for politics.

He said that the Center is monitoring Manipur round the clock. “See how quickly the government sent more than 70 companies of paramilitary troops to Manipur… The Center also started talks with all legislators to bring peace. It is up to all to attend meetings and Work to restore normality.

As of 2023, a fractured society far from any administrative protection, long-standing ethnic rivalries have resulted in the Metai, who live mostly in the plains of the Imphal Valley, and the Koki, who are more They live in the valley. The hills have withdrawn their strongholds. In response, the security forces have created buffer zones in various border districts, set up camps and checkpoints on highways.

But often, militants from both groups use the hills and forest to enter other districts and attack each other. Rivalries have also led to the proliferation of groups such as the Arambai Tangol, which indicates how fault lines have extended beyond the Mete-Kuki divide, pitting different communities against each other.

Singh blamed illegal immigrants and the drug mafia for the rampant violence.

“Violence happens because there are many interest groups that are badly affected by the work of our government. Drug mafia, illegal immigrants want this to continue because they know that before the violence, Barron Singh did his own wrong. We were the first to get biometric details of people… I am being targeted because our government has cut off one of the main drug routes of the Golden Triangle and Manipur. I prevented illegal entry “Yes,” he said.