<p class="bodytext">It is not known what prompted Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to issue an apology for “what happened in the state.” He said he wanted 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.” It may have been a New Year message without much meaning, and may be taken as too little, too late. There is no hint in it that Biren Singh has owned responsibility for what happened in the state in the last about two years. He said he wanted to express regret, but regret and remorse are different. An apology without remorse is a hollow gesture, especially when it is made from a public office. A person holding a public office is responsible for the acts of commission and omission in that office. It is not a personal, forgive-and-forget issue involving two individuals.</p>.Biren Singh's apology over ethnic strife in Manipur not enough, says CPI, demands his resignation.<p class="bodytext">Biren Singh is a part of the problem in Manipur because he identified with the Meitei community whose conflict with the Kukis is at the root of the situation. He has made wrong and most unconvincing explanations about the issue. In politics, and in government, he has lost the support of his own legislators and coalition partners. In such a setting, an apology from him does not carry credibility. The annual report for 2024 issued by the Union Home Ministry last week also did not rightly address or present the situation in Manipur. It mentioned the despatch of forces and equipment, financial support, engagement with state officials, and Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state as measures taken to end the strife and conflict. These have not helped, and the situation has only gone from bad to worse over the months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s failure to visit the state and the claim, made some months ago, that normalcy was being restored there by the state government with support from the Centre, would stand out as proof of the unconcern and misrepresentation of the situation at the highest level.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An apology would not undo the damage that has been done. Even after the apology, Biren Singh blamed past Congress governments for the present situation in Manipur. There were also incidents after that, including a militant attack in West Imphal. Manipur is now divided into two geographical, political, and psychological parts with no effective interaction between them. There is no trust left in the state government or the chief minister. If the apology should have any meaning, it should come with the acceptance of responsibility for what is apologised for, and action based on it. In a democracy, accountability is of utmost importance.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It is not known what prompted Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to issue an apology for “what happened in the state.” He said he wanted 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.” It may have been a New Year message without much meaning, and may be taken as too little, too late. There is no hint in it that Biren Singh has owned responsibility for what happened in the state in the last about two years. He said he wanted to express regret, but regret and remorse are different. An apology without remorse is a hollow gesture, especially when it is made from a public office. A person holding a public office is responsible for the acts of commission and omission in that office. It is not a personal, forgive-and-forget issue involving two individuals.</p>.Biren Singh's apology over ethnic strife in Manipur not enough, says CPI, demands his resignation.<p class="bodytext">Biren Singh is a part of the problem in Manipur because he identified with the Meitei community whose conflict with the Kukis is at the root of the situation. He has made wrong and most unconvincing explanations about the issue. In politics, and in government, he has lost the support of his own legislators and coalition partners. In such a setting, an apology from him does not carry credibility. The annual report for 2024 issued by the Union Home Ministry last week also did not rightly address or present the situation in Manipur. It mentioned the despatch of forces and equipment, financial support, engagement with state officials, and Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state as measures taken to end the strife and conflict. These have not helped, and the situation has only gone from bad to worse over the months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s failure to visit the state and the claim, made some months ago, that normalcy was being restored there by the state government with support from the Centre, would stand out as proof of the unconcern and misrepresentation of the situation at the highest level.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An apology would not undo the damage that has been done. Even after the apology, Biren Singh blamed past Congress governments for the present situation in Manipur. There were also incidents after that, including a militant attack in West Imphal. Manipur is now divided into two geographical, political, and psychological parts with no effective interaction between them. There is no trust left in the state government or the chief minister. If the apology should have any meaning, it should come with the acceptance of responsibility for what is apologised for, and action based on it. In a democracy, accountability is of utmost importance.</p>
