Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on September 4 appealed to people from different communities to “forgive and forget” the violence of the past and work together to rebuild trust and restore peace in the state.
Addressing a public interaction programme at Christian Center Church in Leimakhong, Kangpokpi district, Khemchand said the prolonged crisis had caused immense pain and suffering to people from both the Meitei and Kuki communities.
The Chief Minister said he had interacted with internally displaced persons from both communities and found that they shared a common desire — to return to their respective homes.
“Considering the future of the younger generation, let us all collectively shun violence and work towards creating a peaceful environment for our youths,” Khemchand said, stressing the importance of peaceful coexistence and harmony among communities.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister visited L Champhai village in Kangpokpi to inspect a water supply project and review the repair of a major pipeline supplying drinking water to Thangmeiband in Imphal. The pipeline was damaged during the violence in May 2023.
Officials of the Public Health Engineering Department informed the Chief Minister that the repair work would be completed within a month, after which potable water supply would be restored to the affected areas.
MLAs Haokholet Kipgen, Heikham Dingo Singh and Kh Joykisan Singh assured their support for the smooth implementation of the project, including necessary security arrangements. Khemchand also urged village leaders to extend full cooperation to the department officials.
During the interaction at Leimakhong, Khemchand announced that the government would consider upgrading the existing Primary Health Centre into a Community Health Centre.
He said the upgradation process could take some time and, in the meantime, specialist and super-specialist doctors from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences would be arranged to visit Leimakhong and provide medical services to local residents.
Kipgen described Leimakhong as a “Mini Manipur”, pointing out that people from Meitei, Kuki, Naga, Nepali and Bihari communities live in the area. He expressed hope that the locality would gradually return to its pre-crisis condition.
Dingo Singh said the Chief Minister’s initiatives had helped bridge gaps between communities and called for collective efforts to promote peace and development.
Joykisan Singh stressed the need to strengthen a common Manipuri identity rather than focusing on separate community identities.
Later, Khemchand visited Kanto Sabal village in Imphal West, where he interacted with members of the Women Welfare Organisation at the Village Development Committee Hall. He listened to their grievances and concerns and assured them that the government would consider providing necessary assistance and support.