India, May 1 -- The Centre must consider the plea by a group of 21 MLAs for installing a popular government in Manipur favourably. The state has been under President's Rule since February when the Biren Singh government was dismissed following its failure to enforce law and order in the state. The signatories who have called for restoring the popular government include 14 BJP MLAs (out of 37 in the assembly), three from the National People's Party, two from the Naga People's Front, and two independents. This may be a small section of the legislators - the Manipur legislative assembly has 60 members - but they do have a case.

Chief minister Biren Singh was responsible for the mess in Manipur. His actions and pronouncements when ethnic ten...