New Delhi, April 4, 2025 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday strongly defended the Centre’s decision to impose President’s Rule in Manipur, asserting that the move was made strictly under Article 356(1) of the Constitution and not intended to destabilize any elected government. His address came during a parliamentary debate on the proclamation of President’s Rule in the violence-hit northeastern state, issued on February 13, 2025.
During his address, Shah clarified that the state’s Chief Minister had resigned on February 11 and no political party — including the BJP, Congress, or regional allies — staked claim to form the government thereafter. “In the absence of any viable alternative and governance vacuum, the imposition of President’s Rule was the only constitutional recourse,” he said.
Shah rejected allegations that the Centre’s move was politically motivated. “This is not the first time President’s Rule has been imposed in Manipur. In fact, this is the 11th instance — 10 of which occurred under previous governments,” he pointed out.
Zero Violence Post-Imposition
Highlighting improved law and order, Shah emphasized that since the imposition of President’s Rule, there has been zero recorded violence in the state. “Even in the months of November, December, and January leading up to the decision, no incidents of violence were reported,” he said, suggesting that a narrative of deteriorating law and order was being falsely projected.
He further contrasted the current situation with Congress-led regimes in the past, stating that between 2002 and 2012, Manipur faced prolonged periods of blockades and curfews, with an average of 225 days of unrest annually.
Ethnic Conflict, Not Terrorism or Law and Order Failure
Calling for nuanced understanding, Shah addressed the nature of the recent unrest in Manipur, stating: “This was not terrorism. This was not a law and order failure. This was an ethnic conflict triggered by a controversial High Court judgment, which recommended granting Scheduled Tribe status to a community without consulting the Centre, Tribal Commission, or following constitutional procedure.”
He added that the Supreme Court has since stayed the judgment, terming it “unconstitutional,” as such decisions fall solely within the jurisdiction of Parliament and the Union Cabinet.
Political Neutrality and Historical Precedents
In response to opposition criticism that the Prime Minister did not visit Manipur during the crisis, Shah referenced past governments: “Whether it was during the 1993 Naga-Kuki conflict or the Kuki-Paite clashes in the 1990s, Prime Ministers then also did not visit. These ethnic conflicts are unfortunately long-standing, and resolving them requires careful negotiation — not just symbolic gestures.”
He added that over 260 people have lost their lives in the recent unrest, though 70% of casualties occurred in the first 15 days, indicating that the situation was brought under control soon after initial flare-ups.
Peace Talks and Way Forward
The Home Minister assured Parliament that sustained efforts are underway to restore normalcy. “We have conducted 13 rounds of dialogue between both communities. A final round is expected soon in Delhi,” he said. “It is not our policy to prolong President’s Rule. We hope the conditions for democratic governance will be restored soon.”
He also highlighted the Centre’s achievements in the Northeast under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, citing a 70% reduction in civilian casualties, the signing of 20 peace accords with various insurgent groups, and the surrender of over 10,000 militants since 2014.
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