Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: Following Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s apology for the ongoing crisis in the state, Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Kumar Nishad has urged people to avoid politicizing the gesture.
Speaking to media, Nishad described the apology as a positive move, highlighting the importance of acknowledging mistakes. “Janta Janardan hey… those who work, at times, make mistakes as well. When he realized it, he apologized. It should be considered a good thing, and people should not do politics on this,” he said.
Nishad’s comments came in response to Biren Singh’s public apology on Tuesday, where the Manipur Chief Minister expressed regret for the violence and unrest that has gripped the state since May 2023. Singh called on the people to “forget the past” and work towards a peaceful and prosperous Manipur.
“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 feel regret. I would like to apologise,” Singh stated.
He also appealed to all communities in Manipur to unite and rebuild together. “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. Whatever happened has happened. We now have to forget past mistakes and start a new life. A peaceful Manipur, a prosperous Manipur, we should all live together,” he added.
However, Singh’s apology has drawn criticism from opposition leaders. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit called for the Chief Minister’s resignation, accusing him of exacerbating the conflict. “We can understand if he tried to control the law and order situation in Manipur but couldn’t resolve the conflict. But when a CM is found aggravating a conflict between two communities and taking sides, then it’s unforgivable. If he truly thinks what he did was wrong, then he should resign,” Dikshit said.
The violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, after a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) protested the Manipur High Court’s directive to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list. The conflict has primarily involved clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of people.