President's Rule Imposed in Manipur, Here's Why!
President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on 13th February 2025 after CM N Biren Singh resigned amidst ongoing ethnic violence and political instability in the state.
On 13th February 2025, President's Rule was imposed in Manipur after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on 9th February, amid escalating ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The violence, which has been ongoing since May 2023, has resulted in over 250 deaths and thousands displaced.
Earlier, audio tapes surfaced, allegedly showing Biren Singh encouraging the violence, prompting the Supreme Court to order a forensic investigation. Just five days later, Singh submitted his resignation. His departure deepened the ethnic unrest and created internal conflicts within the ruling BJP.
The resignation led to the cancellation of the state assembly’s budget session, which had been scheduled for 10th February, and was rescheduled to 12th February. However, BJP ministers failed to agree on a new chief minister, and the assembly could not reconvene. On 11th February, BJP leaders, including Sambit Patra, Manipur BJP chief Sharda Devi, and other lawmakers, met with Governor Ajay Bhalla, but no statement was made regarding the replacement of Singh.
According to Article 174(1) of the Constitution, state assemblies must meet at least twice a year, and the gap between sessions cannot exceed six months. Since the last session of the Manipur Assembly was held on 12th August 2024, it was mandatory for the assembly to convene by 12th February. Due to the ongoing political and social turmoil, it was decided to impose President’s Rule in the state under Article 356 of the Constitution.
President Droupadi Murmu signed the proclamation, stating that the situation had made it impossible for the state government to function as per the Constitution. As a result, all powers of the Manipur government were transferred to the President, and the state assembly was suspended.
The crisis in Manipur highlights the dangers of focusing only on electoral victories without addressing the state's complex ethnic issues. While the BJP has quickly grown in the northeast, its inability to handle such sensitive matters has raised questions about its governance. The way the central government responds to the ongoing situation will be crucial for future peace in the region.
For more details on the violence, watch the videos here:
https://ishnews.tv/videos/news/manipur-issues-shoot-at-sight-orders-amid-violence
https://ishnews.tv/videos/news/more-than-50-people-dead-in-manipur-violence
