CM Biren must go

MURDER, rape, abduction, arson, plunder — Manipur has seen it all during the past year and a half, and there is still no respite for its beleaguered people. The strife-torn northeastern state has also witnessed the utter helplessness and apathy of the Central and state governments — both led by the BJP. With public anger against the ruling alliance reaching a crescendo, the National People’s Party (NPP) — which has seven MLAs in the 60-member Assembly — has withdrawn support to the state government. The party has rightly claimed that the Chief Minister N Biren Singh-led dispensation has “completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy”.

The NPP’s pullout poses no threat to the government as it enjoys a comfortable majority. However, the development has roused the BJP to do something to show that it is no longer in the sleep mode. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reviewed the security situation in the state two days in a row, while the CM has held a meeting with ministers and other MLAs of the ruling coalition in a desperate bid to assert himself.

Globe-trotting Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conspicuous by his absence from the state after disturbances broke out last year, while Shah has failed to control the ever-worsening situation, even though his ministry has the CRPF and other security forces at its disposal. Moreover, the BJP has reposed trust in Biren Singh, conveniently ignoring his obvious lapses and the growing clamour for his removal. With the raging fires engulfing houses of BJP legislators, the party should stop treating the non-performing CM with kid gloves. Biren must be shown the door. Back in 2002, then PM Vajpayee had come close to sacking CM Modi after the Gujarat riots. Now, the ball is in PM Modi’s court.