Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has recently clarified that his apology, made on December 31, was intended for the innocent victims of the ethnic violence in the state, not for the perpetrators of the violence.
His statement, which was made in response to the tragic events that have unfolded over the last 20 months, had sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from opposition parties.
However, Singh has now firmly stated that the apology was directed towards those who have suffered the most – the displaced citizens and the families who have lost loved ones in the ongoing unrest.
The Chief Minister explained that his words were not meant to comfort or absolve those responsible for the violence, but to address the grief and pain that the ordinary citizens of Manipur have endured.
Speaking to the media, Singh emphasised that he saw no reason to apologise to individuals or groups engaged in terror, asserting that his regret was for the innocent lives lost and for the families torn apart by the violence.
This clarification comes after the opposition accused the Chief Minister of being too lenient with his apology.
They argued that his words lacked the strength and decisiveness needed to address the scale of the suffering in the state. Singh, however, responded strongly, accusing the opposition of politicising the situation for their own gain.
He stated that the opposition parties were attempting to create further unrest by misinterpreting his statement and using it as a platform for political attacks.
On December 31, Singh had expressed deep regret over the ethnic violence that has plagued the state for nearly two years, which has claimed the lives of more than 250 people.
In his message, he called for forgiveness and unity among all communities, urging the people of Manipur to "forgive and forget" the past in order to move forward and rebuild the state together.
Singh’s message of reconciliation was meant to heal the divisions that had been created by the violence, but it was met with mixed reactions.
The opposition, particularly the Congress, wasted no time in criticising Singh’s statement. They questioned why the Chief Minister felt the need to apologise and why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not visited the state to offer an apology as well.
For the opposition, Singh's apology seemed insufficient, and they called for more decisive action to restore peace to Manipur. They argued that words alone would not heal the wounds inflicted by the violence and that tangible steps needed to be taken to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
In response to the opposition's accusations, Singh rejected the notion that his apology was inadequate. He insisted that his statement was an honest expression of grief and sorrow for the victims of the violence.
Singh reiterated that he had no intention of making peace with those who had perpetrated the violence, but he felt compelled to offer his apologies to the innocent citizens who had been caught in the crossfire.
He remarked, "Why should I say sorry to terrorists? I am saying sorry to the innocent people and those who were displaced from their homes."
The Chief Minister also expressed frustration at the opposition's handling of the situation, claiming that they were using his statement as a political tool to undermine the government.
Singh accused the opposition of stirring unrest by turning his words into a political issue. He further stated that the opposition had no real ideology and was simply seeking to exploit the situation for their own benefit.
Singh's apology came after a period of relative calm in the state, with the Chief Minister expressing hope that normalcy would soon be restored. He also urged the people of Manipur to put aside past grievances and work towards building a more peaceful and prosperous future.
"Whatever happened has happened," Singh said, calling for all communities to "forgive and forget our past mistakes" and start afresh.
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