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Yumnam Khemchand Singh said Monday’s meeting of MLAs, which he skipped, should have included the administration as it was their job to maintain law and order in the state
Yumnam Khemchand Singh. (X @YKhemchandSingh)
Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a minister in the Manipur government, has questioned chief minister N Biren Singh’s refusal to quit over the failed law and order situation in the volatile state. Yumnam Singh was one of the leaders who did not turn up for Monday’s meeting of MLAs called by the chief minister and is known to be a Biren Singh-baiter.
CNN-News18 caught up with Yumnam Singh to understand the situation in Manipur and his insistence on the chief minister’s resignation.
Edited Excerpts:
Why did you not attend Monday’s meeting?
The meeting’s notification said it was to review the law and order situation in Manipur. If that were the case, then the DG and chief secretary should have been called. Why were the MLAs summoned? The administration will look into law and order, this is not my work. Even Saturday’s resolution has no meaning. When there is an attempt to set our houses on fire, it’s not possible to hold such a meeting.
People say you don’t like Biren Singh and you have been opposing him. Is that true?
In politics, there is no friend or foe. Honestly speaking, it has been 18 months and there is no peace. I asked him to resign a couple of times but he is not putting down his papers. He could not bring peace till now so why isn’t he resigning?
Several houses of ministers and MLAs have been vandalised and set ablaze. What’s your take on that?
People are emotional and you need to make them understand the situation. When protesters came to my house, I told them I too am looking for justice. I am also emotionally broken. I requested them and they understood.
How will peace come to Manipur?
More forces have come in but we need to talk to people and make them understand the ground realities.
