Lok Sabha extends President's Rule in Manipur for six months

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday approved the extension of President's rule in Manipur for six months by passing, through voice vote, the statutory resolution brought by the government. The Centre had imposed President's rule in strife-torn Manipur on February 13 following the resignation of the then chief minister N Biren Singh.

Justifying the extension of President's rule, minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai claimed that the law and order situation in Manipur has improved since central rule was imposed. "Ever since President's rule was imposed, only one incident of violence had taken place. There has been no incident of killing in Manipur in four months. We are committed to restoring complete peace in the state," Rai said.

Congress member from Manipur, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, opposed the extension of President's rule and demanded fresh elections in the state. He argued that President's rule was not imposed in the first place to restore normalcy but to avert "embarrassment" for the Centre, a reference to the CM resigning amid some MLAs withdrawing support to his regime. "We must remember that Article 356 was used only in the rarest of rare occasions. The mandate of the people should rule," Akoijam said while pressing for elections.