Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand calls for unity among communities, recalls Manipur’s shared history and urges people to work for peace and a developed Manipur by 2047.
Imphal, August 9: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday called for greater unity among the state's communities, saying people should develop a sense of belonging towards India in the same way they love and protect their homes and families.
Khemchand made the remarks while addressing a gathering at Yumjao Lairembi Lampak in Yumnam Leikai, the concluding point of a Har Ghar Tiranga Yatra organised by the BJP Singjamei Mandal.
The rally began at Ibudhou Luwang Pokpa Lampak at Singjamei Chingamakha and proceeded towards Yumjao Lairembi in Yumnam Leikai. A large number of people participated in the procession carrying the national flag.
The Chief Minister used the occasion to speak about Manipur's history, its multi-community social fabric and the need for people to work collectively to restore peace and pursue development.
Khemchand said it was necessary for citizens to love the country as Indians while also maintaining the social bonds that have historically connected the different communities of Manipur.
CM recalls Manipur’s history of self-rule
Speaking about the history of the state, Khemchand said Manipur had existed as a self-reliant kingdom in Southeast Asia under its kings before the end of British rule.
He also referred to developments following India's independence in 1947, stating that Manipur was the first country in Southeast Asia to frame a constitution and conduct elections.
The Chief Minister used these historical references to underline what he described as the state's long tradition of political institutions and collective participation.
He also recalled periods when different communities in Manipur came together to protect the land.
Referring to the Seven Years' Devastation and the conflict with the Awa, or Burmese forces, Khemchand said leaders representing different communities had united and worked together to drive the Awa forces out of Manipur.
According to the Chief Minister, such episodes demonstrate that the protection and development of Manipur have historically involved people from different communities working together.
‘Manipur cannot progress if communities think only for themselves’
Khemchand said the state's future development would be difficult if communities living in Manipur focused exclusively on their respective community interests.
He called for a broader approach in which different communities see themselves as stakeholders in the future of the state.
The Chief Minister particularly called upon the Meetei community, which he described as the majority community, to assume greater responsibility in promoting unity.
He urged Meeteis to act as a "big brother and big sister" by extending love and support to other communities and working to bring people together.
He said this responsibility should not be understood merely in terms of community identity but as part of a broader effort to preserve the state that had been protected and handed down by previous generations.
Khemchand also referred to the composition of Manipur's early elected legislature to illustrate his point.
He noted that the first Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly formed through elections in 1948 was a Paite from Churachandpur.
For the Chief Minister, the example reflected the participation of different communities in the political development of Manipur and demonstrated that the state had historically been shaped through contributions from various sections of society.
CM refers to Kangpokpi visit
Khemchand also referred to the current situation in Manipur and a visit made by some MLAs to Kangpokpi on Saturday.
He said the legislators were warmly received by local residents during the visit.
The Chief Minister stated that there was no situation during the visit indicating that Meetei or Naga people were prohibited from entering the area.
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He cited the visit while questioning whether some individuals were attempting to create divisions and provoke conflict among communities that have coexisted in Manipur.
According to Khemchand, the focus at present should be on restoring peaceful life rather than creating circumstances that could further widen divisions.
He questioned whether some people were deliberately trying to "stoke the flames" and create clashes among communities at a time when efforts were being made to restore normalcy.
Jiribam interactions recalled
The Chief Minister also referred to his own visit to Jiribam several months ago along with some MLAs.
During the visit, he said, they interacted in a friendly manner with members of the Kuki, Paite and Hmar communities living in the district.
Khemchand presented the interaction as an example of efforts to establish communication across community lines and promote a peaceful environment.
However, he said an incident later occurred at Tronglaobi in which two children were killed and their mother suffered serious burn injuries after a sudden bomb explosion.
Referring to the incident, the Chief Minister urged the public to consider whether such an incident could be attributed to the present government.
He said people should recognise that, amid efforts to restore peace, there could be individuals who do not want peace to return and who may seek to undermine reconciliation and peace-building initiatives.
The Chief Minister did not provide further details about those he alleged were attempting to disrupt the peace process.
Appeal to protect Manipur’s social fabric
Khemchand's remarks repeatedly returned to the need for people from different communities to work together.
He said Manipur's history showed that the state had been protected through the collective efforts of its people rather than by any single community acting alone.
He urged residents to preserve this legacy and ensure that the divisions resulting from the present situation do not permanently damage the relationships between communities.
The Chief Minister said maintaining unity would be essential not only for restoring peace but also for ensuring the state's future development.
He called for a collective effort to preserve the Manipur inherited from previous generations while creating conditions for future generations to live in peace.
Viksit Manipur target linked to Viksit Bharat 2047
Khemchand also connected the state's development goals with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
He said the people of Manipur should work towards building a developed and peaceful Manipur as part of the broader national objective of achieving a developed India by 2047.
The Chief Minister urged people to stand together with the Tricolour and work collectively for peace, development and a stronger society.
He said a developed Manipur would require people across communities to move forward together rather than remain focused exclusively on separate community interests.
The Har Ghar Tiranga programme, he said, provided an opportunity for people to reaffirm their connection with the country while also remembering the shared history and responsibilities of the people of Manipur.
The programme was attended by BJP Manipur Pradesh in-charge Dr Ajit Gopchade, BJP Manipur Pradesh president and Rajya Sabha MP A Sharda, Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykisan and government spokesperson Th Radheshyam.
BJP Karyakartas, members of the party's Mahila Morcha and Yuva Morcha, representatives of the Women Federation, Self Help Groups and people from different parts of the state also participated in the event.
The rally and subsequent gathering formed part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, with participants carrying the national flag during the procession and gathering at the programme's destination.
For Manipur, where political and social divisions have remained a central concern, the Chief Minister used the programme to make a broader appeal for inter-community cooperation.
He urged people to look beyond narrow community interests and take collective responsibility for preserving the state's social fabric, restoring peace and creating the conditions required for development.
Khemchand's message was that the state's historical experience of communities coming together should serve as a basis for rebuilding trust and working towards a peaceful and developed Manipur by 2047.
