Imphal, Jan 2: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s public apology for the communal violence in the state has sparked mixed reactions from the Meitei and Kuki communities.

While Meitei groups, such as the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and the All Manipur United Clubs Organization, have welcomed the apology as a step towards reconciliation, Kuki organizations have dismissed it as insufficient.

Kuki groups, including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum and the Committee on Tribal Unity, are demanding Singh’s resignation, citing his failure to maintain law and order. They view the apology as a mere political tactic to deflect criticism.

Singh’s apology was part of his efforts to provide relief to the people affected by the violence. He also criticized the Congress party for politicizing his apology and questioned their handling of similar communal conflicts in the 1990s.

The Chief Minister highlighted the historical communal violence in Manipur, including the Kuki-Naga clashes and the Kuki-Meitei conflicts, which resulted in significant loss of lives.

As the situation remains tense, it’s clear that finding a resolution will require more than just apologies – it will demand a genuine commitment to understanding and addressing the deep-seated issues driving the communal violence.