<p>Guwahati: On the last day of 2024, Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Tuesday expressed "regret" and "apologised" for the ethnic conflict that have claimed more than 250 lives since May 2023 and left thousands displaced.</p> <p>Talking to reporters in Imphal, Singh said, "The entire year been very unfortunate. I feel regret and want to apologise to the people for what is happening till today." </p> <p>"Many lost their lives and their dear ones. Many have become displaced and left homes. I really feel regret and want to say sorry to the victims. But the progress made in the last three-four months towards peace makes me confident that normalcy and peace will be restored in the new year 2025," he said. </p>.Manipur 2024: Chaos, violence, protests reigned supreme.<p>Although the conflict involving the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo community have kept Manipur on the boil and saw anger against handling of the situation both by the Centre and BJP government in the state, this is for the first time, the CM publicly said sorry for the conflict.</p><p>Many had even tried to attack the house of the CM, other Ministers and the MLAs in Imphal, particularly after six women and children were killed allegedly by Kuki insurgents in November. Organisations representing the Kuki-Zo communities have demanded CM's removal and have been demanding separation from Manipur. </p><p><strong>'Forgive and forget'</strong></p><p>Singh also appealed to all to "forget and forgive" for whatever has been happening and try to live together like in the past. "We have to forget and forgive for the past mistakes and try to start a new life and a peaceful Manipur....We have lived peacefully together with 34-34 tribes, we should live together in the days ahead too."</p><p>The appeal is unlikely to be welcomed by the organisations representing the majority Meitei community, who have been demanding "stringent action" against the Kukis for the conflict. Meitei organisations have been demanding abrogation of the Suspension of Operations agreements with 25 Kuki insurgent groups, sealing of the Indo-Myanmar border and a National Register of Citizens in order to "detect the illegal migrants" from neighbouring Myanmar claiming that such migration have posed a threat to their identity. </p>.Newly recruited Meitei, Kuki personnel in Manipur police to be posted together: CM Biren Singh.<p>Singh's comment, however, led the Opposition Congress to ask why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit Manipur and apologise similarly for the conflict. </p><p>In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "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." </p><p>"The people of Manipur simply cannot understand this neglect," he said.</p>
<p>Guwahati: On the last day of 2024, Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Tuesday expressed "regret" and "apologised" for the ethnic conflict that have claimed more than 250 lives since May 2023 and left thousands displaced.</p> <p>Talking to reporters in Imphal, Singh said, "The entire year been very unfortunate. I feel regret and want to apologise to the people for what is happening till today." </p> <p>"Many lost their lives and their dear ones. Many have become displaced and left homes. I really feel regret and want to say sorry to the victims. But the progress made in the last three-four months towards peace makes me confident that normalcy and peace will be restored in the new year 2025," he said. </p>.Manipur 2024: Chaos, violence, protests reigned supreme.<p>Although the conflict involving the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo community have kept Manipur on the boil and saw anger against handling of the situation both by the Centre and BJP government in the state, this is for the first time, the CM publicly said sorry for the conflict.</p><p>Many had even tried to attack the house of the CM, other Ministers and the MLAs in Imphal, particularly after six women and children were killed allegedly by Kuki insurgents in November. Organisations representing the Kuki-Zo communities have demanded CM's removal and have been demanding separation from Manipur. </p><p><strong>'Forgive and forget'</strong></p><p>Singh also appealed to all to "forget and forgive" for whatever has been happening and try to live together like in the past. "We have to forget and forgive for the past mistakes and try to start a new life and a peaceful Manipur....We have lived peacefully together with 34-34 tribes, we should live together in the days ahead too."</p><p>The appeal is unlikely to be welcomed by the organisations representing the majority Meitei community, who have been demanding "stringent action" against the Kukis for the conflict. Meitei organisations have been demanding abrogation of the Suspension of Operations agreements with 25 Kuki insurgent groups, sealing of the Indo-Myanmar border and a National Register of Citizens in order to "detect the illegal migrants" from neighbouring Myanmar claiming that such migration have posed a threat to their identity. </p>.Newly recruited Meitei, Kuki personnel in Manipur police to be posted together: CM Biren Singh.<p>Singh's comment, however, led the Opposition Congress to ask why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit Manipur and apologise similarly for the conflict. </p><p>In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "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." </p><p>"The people of Manipur simply cannot understand this neglect," he said.</p>