IMPHAL : 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.” “These steps will strengthen connectivity, rebuild trust and deepen people-to-people bonds. Let us move forward together in peace, reconciliation and hope for a peaceful, united Manipur,” Singh said.
Speaking on the occasion, Kipgen said national highways belonged to the nation and should be accessible to everyone.
“National highways are not the property of anyone but the property of the nation. I also agree that the movement of all should be allowed on the highways,” she said.
Kipgen also said that the day marked a historic occasion for everyone and said the present BJP-led government has been consistently working to bring development to the state.
She added that Manipur can achieve complete development only when both the valley and the hill areas progress equally and that peace in the state can be ensured through mutual love and trust among communities.
She also sought the support of civil society organisations, public leaders, intellectuals and others to bring lasting peace to the state.
Saitu MLA Haokholet said he was happy to meet his fellow MLAs after nearly three years and appealed to all communities and those involved in the conflict to leave the past behind and return to normalcy.
He said National Highway 2 had been the lifeline of all communities in the state since World War II. (Source: PTI)
