JIRIBAM: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday visited internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jiribam district, bordering southern Assam. He first visited the relief camp housing Meitei IDPs at Jiribam Higher Secondary School campus where he interacted with the inmates.
The chief minister, who left for Jiribam from Kangla Helipad at 10 a.m, was warmly received by the District Administration, led by Deputy Commissioner, Jiribam Krishna Kumar along with Superintendent of Police Prakhar Pandey, ADC, Jiribam Th Manoranjan Singh and other officials from the District Administration, District Police and Central Security Forces on his arrival at Bidyanagar Helipad.
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At Jiribam Higher Secondary School campus, the Chief Minister emphasized the need to remove trust deficit. “Jiribam is the gateway to Manipur and has a potential to become a business hub. Like Mumbai is India’s business capital, Jiribam can be Manipur’s Mumbai. For the business to flourish, peace has to come first,” he said.
The chief minister then visited Kalinagar relief camp housing the Hmar tribal IDPs. The Hmar tribe belongs to the Kuki-Zo community.
Noting that the Hmar IDPs were all Christians, the chief minister said that Christianity teaches forgiveness and fostering love for neighbours and even enemies.
“Let us consider the last two years was a nightmare, let us forget it and have the courage to move forward towards peace and development,” he said.
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He then visited Jarolpokpi Hmar village, which had experienced violence during 2023.
This is the second time that Khemchand visited Kuki-Zo villages since December 8 last when he visited a Kuki hamlet at Litan Saraikhong in the Ukhrul district and interacted with IDPs belonging to Kukis.
“I feel someone is trying to destroy the concept of Manipuri. First, we are Indian and then we are Manipuri. We can be Manipuri Naga, Manipuri Kuki and Manipuri Meitei. We need to rebuild the concept of Manipuri,” he
said.
The Hmar villagers urged the CM to take care of the needs of the tribal village, particularly the school building.
The chief minister also visited Mongbung Meitei village and interacted with the villagers. The villagers requested the government to repair the existing village road. Giving assurance to develop the road, Khemchand told the villagers that both sides should start interacting with each other in order to remove the trust deficit.
“Since I took oath as chief minister last week, my trip to Jiribam is the first one outside Imphal. I feel Jiribam is the most important place in Manipur and has the potential to become a business centre. For Jiribam to become a business hub, peace is essential,” he added.
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The chief minister told the IDPs that their concerns are being addressed by the district administration. He informed that the houses are being constructed for the homeless IDPs and the houses are likely to be completed by March.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters on the sideline of the visit, the chief minister stressed upon his commitment to a unified Manipur, free from caste and community lines.
On the topic of the IDP resettlement process, Khemchand noted that efforts had already begun during the President’s Rule in Manipur. He indicated that while it is still early in his tenure to announce specific timelines or methods for resolution, his government is dedicated to addressing these challenges.
The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of the IRB Barracks at the 87-Bn CRPF HQ.
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