New Delhi: The Congress party on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh sought public apology for the ongoing ethnic violence in the state, which has continued since May 3, 2023.
Taking to X, Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh asked why can’t PM Modi go to the strife-torn northeastern state and say the same, even as he travels across the country and the world.
He questioned in the post: “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,” he pointed out.
Why can’t the Prime Minister go to Manipur and say the same thing there? He has deliberately avoided visiting the state since May 4th, 2023, even as he jets around the country and the world. The people of Manipur simply cannot understand this neglect https://t.co/38lizNtiAy
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 31, 2024
His post came after N Biren Singh, earlier in the day, remarked that he feels “regret” and “wants to say sorry to the people of the state”.
What did the Manipur CM say
Singh said that he wanted to apologise for what happened in the state. “Many people have lost their loved ones, and many have been forced to leave their homes. I deeply regret this and offer my sincerest apologies. However, after witnessing relative peace over the past three to four months, I am hopeful that normalcy will be restored in the coming year.”
“Whatever happened has happened… I want to appeal to all communities to forgive and forget our past mistakes and start life afresh by living together in a peaceful and prosperous Manipur,” he added.
The CM pointed out that from May to October, 2023, 408 firing incidents were reported. “From November 2023 to April 2024, there were 345 firing incidents, whereas from May this year till now, 112 firing incidents were reported.”
Over 250 people have lost their lives and thousands left homeless in the ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. A recent report by the Ministry of Home Affairs said that Manipur accounted for about 77 per cent of the total violence in the entire northeastern region last year.
