Imphal- Amidst ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, the opposition Congress party announced on Sunday that its MLAs and MPs will not resign, despite demands from some civil society organizations. The party asserted that the people of Manipur do not support the imposition of President's rule in the state.

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh stated that calls for resignations are an attempt to deflect from the current crisis. He emphasized the responsibility of both the central and state governments to restore peace, urging them to engage with all stakeholders, including communities, civil society organizations, and political parties.

Singh, who served three terms as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2017, claimed that the constitutional machinery in Manipur had effectively collapsed. Okram Ibobi Singh stated that if the resignation of Congress MLAs and MPs would contribute to solving the ethnic crisis, they would be willing to resign, but at the moment, there was no reason to do so. Singh also stated that the resignation of the current Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, or his replacement is an internal matter for the ruling BJP.

The Congress party's stance comes in response to demands from 13 Meitei community-based civil society organizations for the resignation of all 50 MLAs, including Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The organizations cited a lack of political will on the part of the government and warned of potential public unrest.

(Source-IANS)