A week after apologizing to the people of Manipur for the ongoing ethnic violence, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday described the situation as “very unfortunate” while asserting that his government is not to blame because it all began when the Meiteis demanded Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Singh told a group of internally displaced people in Imphal at his office that no politics should be played while the state is experiencing a human crisis.
The Chief Minister recalled the violence that began on May 3, 2023, saying, “The situation was extremely regrettable. The confrontation was caused by the Meiteis’ demand for ST status. Everyone has been criticizing the state government, as if we committed a mistake. The reality, however, is that the Manipur High Court has directed the state administration to respond to the Meiteis’ quest for ST designation. In opposition, a gathering was held, and Meiteis’ homes were attacked. That’s how the conflict started.
