Manipiur Chief Minister N Biren Singh responded sharply to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s criticism regarding his apology for the ongoing turmoil in Manipur, attributing the unrest to the "past sins" of the Congress.
Singh, who addressed the matter in a press conference on Tuesday, said the current ethnic conflict in the state was a result of the party’s historical actions, including the repeated settlement of Burmese refugees in the region and the signing of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Myanmar-based militants during the tenure of former Home Minister P Chidambaram.
The Chief Minister’s apology for the violence — which has claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands — had been an appeal for reconciliation, urging citizens to “forgive and forget” past wrongs. Singh clarified that his expression of regret was meant to comfort the displaced people of the state.
“I want to say sorry for what happened in the state. Many people lost their loved ones, and many had to leave their homes. I regret and want to apologise,” Singh said.
However, Jairam Ramesh responded to Singh’s apology, asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not visited Manipur to offer a similar apology for the violence.
He questioned the Prime Minister’s lack of engagement with the state since May 4, 2023, even as he travelled extensively within India and abroad.
In a post on social media, Singh hit back at Ramesh’s remarks, accusing the Congress of politicising the issue. He questioned whether former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and IK Gujral had ever visited the state to apologise for the previous conflicts between the Kuki and Meitei communities.
“Did Shri PV Narasimha Rao, who served as the Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996, come to Manipur to extend an apology? The Kuki-Paite clashes claimed 350 lives in the state. During most of the Kuki-Paite clashes (1997–1998), Shri IK Gujral was the Prime Minister of India. Did he visit Manipur and say sorry to the people?” Singh asked.
The Chief Minister emphasised that instead of focusing on political accusations, the priority should be finding solutions to the state’s ongoing crisis.
Since the onset of violence in May 2023, Manipur has been divided along ethnic lines, with the Meitei community, the majority in the Imphal Valley, clashing with the tribal Kukis, dominant in the hill districts.
The ethnic violence has led to widespread displacement, and efforts to restore peace remain underway.
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