India, May 2 -- The Centre must consider favourably the plea by a group of 21 MLAs for installing a popular government in Manipur, which 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 calling for restoring the popular government include 14 BJP MLAs (out of the party's 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 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 tensions roiled the state undermined the administration's authority and gave the impression that it was partisan in dealing with the violence. The party leadership's persistence with him diminished the government's credibility among the Kuki-Zo minority. The general election outcome - the Congress won both the Lok Sabha seats in Manipur - may have convinced the BJP thatSingh's claimofpopularity was exaggerated. But when the BJP got Singh to resign, the Centre chose to introduce Governor's rule rather than entrust the administrationtoanother legislator. That has not helped disarm the ethnic militias that instilled fear or remove the distrust between communities that resulted in the carving of exclusive ethnic territories. Civil society groups will be mobilising Saturday to mark two years of ethnic violence, which saw the loss of at least 260 lives and displacement of over 60,000 residents. A closure in the conflict may take time, but it is time steps to initiate the healing process are taken. A popular government may be better placed to lead this since the work needs to begin at the grassroots....