Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday slammed the Congress for its criticism of his government’s handling of the present crisis in Manipur, and for also raising its fingers at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Singh accused the Congress of indulging in unnecessary politics and said the party failed to prioritise Manipur’s interests when it was in power in the state.
“Did Prime Minister PV Narashima Rao visit Manipur during the 1992-97 ethnic clashes between Nagas and Kukis? Did the PM visit the state when ethnic clashes took place between Paites and Kukis which cost more than 300 people their lives, during 1993-97? So why are they playing politics”, Chief Minister Biren Singh asked.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Thursday, he questioned the sincerity of the opposition.
“We want a concrete resolution to the ongoing conflict. This is not a mere political issue. It’s a chronic problem created by Congress. They are the ones who caused these issues and are now blaming us. Not just God, even people won’t forgive them,” Singh claimed.
Commenting on remarks made by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Chief Minister Singh noted that not everyone is fully aware of the complexities of the state’s situation.
He emphasised that those closely dealing with the issue, such as Union Home Minister Amit Shah, understand the realities on the ground.
N Biren Singh described Rijiju’s comments as his personal opinion and a general observation.
Last week, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the problem in Manipur was not an uprising against the BJP-led centre but ethnic clashes between two dominant groups- Meiteis and Kukis.
In a bid to deal with misinformation that could flare violence in the state, N Biren Singh issued a stern warning to social media users, urging them to act responsibly or face consequences under the “law of the land,” which he stated could have long-lasting effects on their lives.
He emphasised that the government will not tolerate hate speech, content inciting communal tensions, or any material that infringes on someone’s personal life and negatively impacts families.
“It’s my earnest appeal to all social media users in Manipur to behave responsibly, ensuring no misunderstandings are created unnecessarily in the state due to irresponsible statements or posts”, Biren said, adding that legal action will be taken against violators.
Addressing the recent cabinet meeting held in Tamenglong, the Chief Minister explained that the government has been unable to reach many remote areas, particularly in the hill districts, due to the ongoing unrest in the state. However, with the situation gradually improving, the government has relaunched its ‘Go to Hills’ and ‘Go to Village’ missions.
The Tamenglong cabinet meeting was part of this initiative, he said.
He also urged indigenous communities to remain vigilant against illegal immigrants entering the state from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Manipur has been in the grip of ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which has left more than 250 people killed and thousands homeless since May 2023.