"Certain individuals working to prolong conflict"

IMPHAL, Dec 21 : Singjamei AC MLA Y Khemchand has raised serious concerns about the ongoing crisis in Manipur, questioning why certain individuals are working to prolong the conflict when both Meitei and Kuki displaced people want to return home and rebuild their lives.
He made this statement during the opening ceremony of a National seminar and Roadshow PAMEX 2026, organized by the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP), New Delhi, and the All Manipur Printing Technologist Association (AMPTA), Imphal.
The seminar was held under the theme *"Romancing Print: The Role of Printing in Modern Education."
Addressing the gathering, Khemchand shared that he recently met with some Kuki IDPs at Litan, who expressed their strong desire to return home. He mentioned that he had stopped at Litan on his way to Kamjong after learning that some Kukis were selling goods there.
The IDPs in the valley districts have been demanding resettlement while Kuki IDPs wish to return home, he said and questioned why some individuals, who are neither displaced nor living in relief camps, are working to prolong the conflict.
People ought to remember that Manipur is a diverse State and home to different communities, he said.
Stating that the people of Manipur are destined to live together regardless of the circumstances, Khemchand urged everyone to exercise restraint and find ways to promote coexistence.
Notably, Khemchand is the first MLA among both Kuki and Meitei legislators to meet the IDPs of both warring communities (Meitei and Kuki).
He visited the Litan Sareikhong relief camp for Kuki IDPs on December 8, which sparked mixed reactions. While many praised the visit as a step towards peace, some Kuki organisations criticized it as "political theatrics" and deemed it insensitive.
The programme was also attended by AMPTA president Y Samarendra, AIFMP (East) vice president Dr N Sharatchandra and PAMEX & Bharat Print Expo Chairman Tushar V Dhote.