Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh calls for united state as only path forward
Singh attended the inauguration and reception program of the newly constructed Mission School for the Blind Girls’ Hostel at Laiching Heikakpokpi in Tengnoupal, a tribal-dominated area.
He called on everyone to love the state founded by our ancestors.
Addressing the various communities residing around Heikakpokpi, the Prime Minister emphasized that the State can only progress through unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Drawing a comparison with Singapore, he said development can only be possible when people overcome social divisions and work together with a common identity.
Saying that violence can never bring a solution, Singh called on all segments of society to resolve differences through dialogue. He said the state’s economy has been hit hard due to the current crisis.
The Prime Minister noted that signs of normalcy were beginning to emerge after more than three years of conflict and called on everyone to preserve the ongoing peace process for the benefit of future generations. He said many Kukis started traveling to Imphal to board the plane and many groups met him to discuss peace.
The Chief Minister announced that the State Government will upgrade the school for the Visually Impaired from the current Class VIII to Class X to ensure that visually impaired students do not need to shift to other institutions to continue their education. He directed the Director of Outreach to expedite the proposal. The program also included cultural performances of the Maring, Kom and Tarao tribes, as well as performances of students from the School for the Visually Impaired. On the occasion, organizers and local representatives submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking government intervention on various development issues.
More than 260 people were killed, more than 1,500 injured, and more than 60,000 people were displaced after ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities on May 3, 2023. The violence broke out after the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ held in the hill areas to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
