After Biren Singh says 'sorry', Congress asks why can't PM go to Manipur and apologise

New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday asked why is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi not visiting Manipur and apologising for the ethnic violence that is continuing for the past 19 months like the way Chief Minister N Biren Singh did.

The remarks came as Singh told reporters in Imphal that he apologised for the ongoing violence and urged people to forget and forgive and move on.

"Why can't the PM go to Manipur and say the same thing there? He has deliberately avoided visiting the state, even as he jets around the country and the world. People of Manipur simply cannot understand this neglect," Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said.

He said Singh's apology was nothing as the responsibility was squarely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who have "insulted" the people of Manipur.

He said Modi has not broken his silence on Manipur since the ethnic violence broke out in the north-eastern state on 3 May, 2023. 

Asking what is holding the Prime Minister back on visiting the state, he said Modi has been travelling across the country and is a "frequent flier".

Ramesh asked why was Modi not meeting MLAs, leadership of political parties and members of civil society.

"The reality is that Modi has outsourced Manipur affairs to the Home Minister. The Chief Minister can say anything. He is just a puppet. The main culprit is the Prime Minister and the Home Minister," he said.

When pointed out that Singh has listed out the things done by the government, Ramesh said he was not doing any favour by doing so, as it was the Constitutional responsibility of the government to maintain law and order and set up relief camps and provide relief to those affected.

"The Chief Minister in the past 19 months has encouraged some armed militia who are in possession of guns and grenades and till now had not taken responsibility for the happenings in the state," he added.