Cong demands removal of Manipur CM, says peace not possible with him

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday said peace in violence hit Manipur is not possible under Chief Minister N Biren Singh and demanded that the prime minister replaces him immediately.

Presenting an eight-point charter of demands on behalf of the Congress at an all-party meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament building, former chief minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh said it was unfortunate that he was not allowed more time to put across his views towards the end of the meeting.

 Singh, who represented the Congress, said the meeting should have been chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi "who has not said a single word on Manipur in the past 50 days".

"This all-party meeting would have been better had it been chaired by the prime minister and held in Imphal. This would have sent a clear message to the people of Manipur that their pain and distress are also a matter of national anguish," he said, while demanding that all rebel groups must be disarmed immediately without any compromise.

"The state government has failed miserably in providing effective governance when it is needed most. The chief minister himself has admitted publicly twice his failure to handle the situation and deal with the crisis. He has also asked for forgiveness of the people.

The chief minister should be replaced immediately," Singh said. On whether the home minister presented a roadmap for peace in Manipur, he replied in the negative.

"The Congress and some other parties also demanded that an all-party delegation be sent to Manipur," he added. (PTI)