Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday hit back at the Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur after the violence that broke out in the northeastern state in May 2023. Singh attributed Manipur violence to the “past sins” of the Congress and also accused the grand old party of playing politics over the turmoil in Manipur.
Responding to Ramesh’s remarks on PM Modi, the Manipur CM said, “Everyone, including yourself, is aware that Manipur is in turmoil today because of the past sins committed by the Congress, such as the repeated settlement of Burmese refugees in Manipur and the signing of the SoO Agreement with Myanmar-based militants in the state, spearheaded by @PChidambaram_IN during his tenure as the Home Minister of India.”
“The apology I extended today was a sincere act of expressing my grief for the people who have been left displaced and become homeless. As a Chief Minister, it was an appeal to forgive and forget what had happened. However, you brought politics into it,” Singh added.
The Manipur CM alleged that between 1992 and 1997 around 1.300 people died and thousands were displaced due to the violence in the state. Notably, Congress’s PV Narsimha was the PM during 1991-96.
“The Naga-Kuki clashes in Manipur resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,300 people and the displacement of thousands more. The violence persisted for several years, with periodic escalations occurring between 1992 and 1997, though the most intense period of conflict was in 1992–1993. The clashes began in 1992 and continued at varying intensities for around five years (1992–1997),” the Manipur CM pointed.
“This period marked one of the bloodiest ethnic conflicts in northeast India, deeply affecting relations between the Naga and Kuki communities in Manipur. Did Shri PV Narasimha Rao, who served as the Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996 and was the President of the Indian National Congress during this time, 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?” he added.
N Biren Singh’s Tweet:
Earlier on Tuesday, Ramesh took a dig at PM Modi after Singh apologised to the people of Manipur for the violence.
“Why can’t the Prime Minister go to Manipur and say the same thing there? He has deliberately avoided visiting the state since May 4, 2023, even as he jets around the country and the world. The people of Manipur simply cannot understand this neglect,” Ramesh wrote on his X handle.
During a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Biren said, “This entire year has been very unfortunate. I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what is happening till today, since last May 3.” “Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes. I really feel regret. I would like to apologise,” he added.
Singh further appealed to the various communities in the state to “forget past mistakes and start a new life”.
“Now, I hope after seeing the last 3-4 months’ progress towards peace, I hope that with the New Year 2025, normalcy and peace will be restored in the state. I want to appeal to all the communities of the state that whatever happened has happened. We now have to forget past mistakes and have to start a new life. A peaceful Manipur, a prosperous Manipur, we should all live together,” he said.
The violence erupted in Manipur between the Meitei and Kuki communities after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, 2023, against the Manipur High Court’s directive to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list. Around 250 people lost their lives in the violence.
