On Tuesday, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh urged residents to set aside political differences and work together to restore peace, stressing the importance of a stable future for upcoming generations. He spoke at the inauguration ceremony held at Arapti Lilong Mapal Kangjeibung in Imphal East district, noting that people on both sides of the ethnic conflict have endured hardships.
During the event, the chief minister opened five development projects across the Keirao Assembly Constituency. He met with internally displaced persons who expressed a desire to return to their homes, assuring them that the state would make every effort to facilitate their return.
Khemchand Singh emphasized that progress hinges on peace, especially for younger generations. He warned that development cannot take place in areas where conflict persists and appealed to the 36 communities that coexist in Manipur to play a greater role in preventing further violence. He recalled the Seven Years Devastation, when leaders of the Naga, Kuki, Meitei and Meitei Pangal communities united to drive out the Burmese.
Keirao Assembly MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei expressed confidence that peace would return in due course and praised the chief minister’s efforts, urging wider public support. The projects inaugurated include the Modern Agro Market Complex (Nupi Keithel) at Kiyamgei, backed by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
