In a heartfelt appeal amid lingering tensions, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s successor, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, visited violence-hit Jiribam district on Wednesday. Meeting internally displaced persons (IDPs) from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, he called for burying the past two years of ethnic strife and uniting for peace and progress.
Arriving at his first tour to the mixed-population district bordering Assam, the Chief Minister likened the recent violence to a ‘bad dream.’ ‘Let us treat these two years as a nightmare and muster the courage to move forward towards peace and development,’ he urged during interactions at relief camps.
His day began at Jiribam Higher Secondary School camp, sheltering Meitei IDPs. Engaging directly with residents, Singh emphasized collective efforts to rebuild trust. ‘Jiribam is Manipur’s gateway with immense potential to become a thriving commercial hub, akin to Mumbai for India,’ he envisioned, stressing that peace is the prerequisite for economic growth.
Moving to Kalinagar relief camp, home to Hmar tribe members from the Kuki-Zo fold, Singh repeated his message of forgiveness. Referencing Christian teachings of love for neighbors—even enemies—he invoked compassion as a path to healing. This visit marked his second outreach to Kuki-Zo villages since December last year, following a trip to Ukhrul district.
At Jarolpokpi Hmar village, ravaged in 2023 violence, locals pledged support to the government while demanding school infrastructure. In Mongbung Meitei village, road repairs topped grievances. Singh assured development projects, reiterating that dialogue between communities must bridge the trust deficit.
‘Manipur’s unity is under threat from forces trying to erase our shared ‘Manipuri’ identity. We are first Indians, then Manipuris—be it Naga, Kuki, or Meitei,’ he declared. On rehabilitation, he noted ongoing house construction for IDPs, expected by March, with district administration addressing concerns.
The tour, his first outside Imphal post-swearing-in, underscored Jiribam’s strategic importance. Greeted by officials at Bidyanagar helipad, Singh gifted a wheelchair to an elderly woman under the palliative care scheme. To media, he reaffirmed commitment to a united Manipur beyond caste lines, vowing to expedite IDP rehabilitation initiated under President’s rule.