Biren says sorry, vows 'normalisation' in 2025

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh's apology on Tuesday evoked mixed reactions, with Meitei groups welcoming it as a "positive step" and Kuki outfits maintaining that it "remains short of taking responsibility" for the violence.

- Thomas Ngangom

Embattled Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday apologised for the violence that has roiled the state for 19 months and appealed to warring groups to forget the past, marking the first public expression of regret over the ethnic strife that stoked sweeping condemnation of his administration's role and repeatedly triggered calls for his resignation.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader focussed on the importance of discussion, defended his government's efforts at restoring peace, and called on groups to move on from the past.

"This entire year [2024] has been very unfortunate. I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what has been happening...since last May 3 [2023]. I feel regret. I apologise. But now, I hope after seeing the last three to four months progress towards peace, I believe in 2025, normalcy will be restored in the state," said Singh, who has repeatedly dismissed calls for his resignation, including from within his party.

Since May 2023, Manipur has been roiled by ethnic violence between the majority Meitei community, and the tribal Kukis, with other groups increasingly sucked into the clashes over the last few months. At least 260 people have lost their lives, and another 50,000 have been displaced. After a brief lull, fresh bursts of violence erupted in November this year.