India, Aug. 9 -- In a major step towards restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday announced that national highways in the state will be reopened for free movement of people from all communities. Singh made the announcement during his visit to Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district, where he inaugurated several development projects. Movement on National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Silchar) has been severely affected for sections of the population since ethnic violence broke out in the state in May 2023. Both highways pass through Kangpokpi district.
On his arrival at Kangpokpi, Singh was welcomed by Kipgen, Saitu MLA Haokholet, Deputy Commissioner, SP and other senior officials. Inaugurating various development projects, Singh said Manipur had a history spanning nearly 3,000 years and that its boundaries had been shaped by contributions from all communities. He said people from different communities had made sacrifices to safeguard the state's territory. "Because of the conflict that has happened, future generations have been affected. To reduce that effect, Imphal-Dimapur bus services will resume very shortly for all communities," Singh said.
Singh said it was unfortunate that some vested-interest groups were trying to create confusion among people, but stressed that there was a solution to every crisis. He urged members of all communities to trust and support one another and said people should first consider themselves Indians and then Manipuris. The chief minister said India's development would remain incomplete without the development of the Northeast and Manipur's progress would be incomplete without the development of Kangpokpi district. While inaugurating a dialysis unit at the Kangpokpi district headquarters, Singh said everyone should forgive and forget and stressed that the government was taking the situation arising from the conflict seriously. Earlier, on his way to the district headquarters in the morning, the chief minister received a warm welcome from villagers of Gamgiphai in Kangpokpi district. In a social media post, Singh said, "Today marks a significant step towards restoring normalcy in Manipur. In the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and NDA legislators, it was decided that the Imphal-Guwahati Bus Service will resume shortly and the national highway will be open to all communities."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.