Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has blamed the Congress for the ongoing ethnic unrest in the state, attributing it to decisions made by previous Congress-led governments. In a detailed post on X, the Chief Minister alleged that the roots of the turmoil, which has gripped Manipur since May 2023, lay in the past actions of the Congress.

Biren Singh specifically pointed to the settlement of Burmese refugees in Manipur and the signing of the SoO (Suspension of Operations) Agreement with Myanmar-based militants under the tenure of then-Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

“Manipur is in turmoil today because of the past sins committed by the Congress, such as the repeated settlement of Burmese refugees in Manipur and the signing of the SoO Agreement with Myanmar-based militants. These decisions were spearheaded by P. Chidambaram during his tenure as Home Minister,” the Chief Minister wrote.

The Chief Minister also apologised for the ongoing crisis, describing his statement as an appeal for reconciliation. “The apology I extended today was a sincere act of expressing my grief for the people who have been displaced and left homeless. As a Chief Minister, it was an appeal to forgive and forget what had happened,” he said.

Recalling the Naga-Kuki clashes from 1992 to 1997, Biren Singh described them as one of the bloodiest ethnic conflicts in the region, which strained relations between the two communities. He criticised the lack of action by the then-Congress leadership, including Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, for failing to visit the state or apologise during the crisis.

“Did P. V. Narasimha Rao, who served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, visit Manipur to apologise for the bloodshed? The Kuki-Paite clashes of 1997-98 claimed 350 lives. Did I. K. Gujral, the Prime Minister during this period, offer an apology?” Biren Singh questioned.

The Chief Minister’s remarks have intensified the political blame game over the ongoing unrest, with Congress leaders yet to respond to the allegations.