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IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh clarified on Friday that his recent apology was not meant for "terrorists" but for the people who have been suffering and displaced due to the ongoing ethnic violence. He emphasized that he saw no reason to apologize to those involved in acts of terrorism.
CM Singh also accused opposition parties of politicizing his apology, stating that those who engage in such actions are intent on causing unrest in the state.
On December 31, Chief Minister Biren Singh apologized for the 20-month-long ethnic violence that resulted in over 250 deaths, urging all communities to "forgive and forget" the past. However, the opposition criticized his statement, deeming it insufficient and calling for concrete actions to restore peace in Manipur.
"Those politicizing my statement are trying to create unrest. The opposition lacks any clear ideology. What I expressed was sorrow and grief, my apology was for those who have suffered and lost their loved ones. I have no reason to apologize to terrorists. My apology is directed towards the innocent people and those displaced from their homes," Singh stated.
He alleged that “ the opposition will say the sun is the moon” and stressed, "Those playing politics over my statement are the ones seeking unrest."
On December 31, the Manipur Chief Minister expressed, "I want to apologize for what happened in the state. Many people lost their loved ones, and many were forced to leave their homes. I deeply regret this and offer my apology. However, after seeing relative peace in the past 3-4 months, I am hopeful that normalcy will be restored in the coming year."
He added, "What has happened is in the past. I urge all communities to forgive and forget our past mistakes and begin anew, living together in a peaceful and prosperous Manipur."
Hours after Biren Singh's apology, the Congress targeted the BJP, questioning why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited Manipur to apologize to the people. Party leaders also criticized Singh's apology as insufficient. In response, Singh defended his statement the same day, calling it a "sincere act of expressing grief."