Kuki people have started coming to Imphal to board flights : CM Talks initiated at CM's Secretariat, says Khemchand

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 19: Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand has stated that  different communities are coming to Imphal and talks have been initiated at the CM Secretariat toward restoring peace in the State.
The Chief Minister today inaugurated a girls’ hostel of Mission Blind School at Laiching Heikakpokpi, Tengnoupal district.
Speaking at the inauguration function, Khemchand said that many Kuki people have started coming to Imphal to board flights at the airport.
He stated that talks with representatives of different communities have begun at the CM Secretariat on restoring peace in the State and this is a positive development.
If the Meiteis continue to limit their outlook only to the interest of Meitei community, Nagas to Naga interest and Kukis to Kuki interest, Manipur will remain mired in a quagmire without ever getting any opportunity for development, the Chief Minister asserted.
The sovereignty of Manipur was challenged by different forces including Awas (Burmese) at different points of time in history. All these challenges were defeated by the communities living together in Manipur collectively, he said.
The 36 communities living together in Manipur were protecting the Nation’s sovereignty collectively throughout history, Khem-chand said.
The existing territorial boundary of Manipur is not a gift from any one. It was drawn by the united strength of the 36 communities.
“Each and every one of us ought to cherish the integrity and territorial boundary of Manipur which was drawn by our forefathers”, he asserted.
There are four communities in Singapore and every community is proud to be a Singaporean.
The four communities have been living together as one in complete harmony. As a result, Singapore is now a highly developed economy with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, he said.      
Asserting that no Nation or State will ever develop in the absence of peace and harmony, the Chief Minister pointed out that there is no future for any community if they choose to live separately rather than living together.
He appealed to all communities to foster communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.
On account of the more than three-year old conflict between the Kukis and Meiteis, there was a sense of insecurity among both the communities to go to each other’s areas. But today, Kukis have started coming to Imphal to board planes, Khemchand said.
At the same time, the fresh conflict between the two communities in the hill areas have turned out to be a serious setback in the process of restoring peace in the State, he said.
Saying that violence and conflicts will not bring any solution, the Chief Minister asserted that all issues should be resolved through dialogue.
Just as brothers fight in a family, the conflict seen in Manipur should be seen as an internal matter, he said.
“Let the bygones be bygones and let us all live together in peace and harmony for the sake of future generations”, Khemchand appealed.  
He called upon all the 36 communities to protect the integrity of Manipur and strive collectively to make Manipur a progressive State.
Noting that the Mission Blind School, Heikakpokpi has classes only up to standard VIII, the Chief Minister announced that the school will be upgraded.
He also asked the Social Welfare Director to initiate due process for upgrading the school.
Mission Blind School Headmaster Karung Pareng Kom, Justice Committee on Anglo-Manipur War 1891 chairman Joychandra Konthoujam and Kom Union Manipur president Serto Ahao Kom were also present at the inauguration function.
Earlier the Chief Minister was accorded a warm reception and different cultural programmes were also presented.