Community based identification must stop : Khemchand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 17 2026: Chief Minister Yumnam Khem-chand has categorically stated that people living together in Manipur must stop identifying themselves based on their respective communities.

All the people living in Manipur, whether they belong to Kukis or Nagas or Meiteis should learn to identify themselves as Mani- puris, he said.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the closing function of Seva Sankalp Abhiyan held at City Convention Centre here today in commemoration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years of uninterrupted public service.

Community based identification must stop : Khemchand

Khemchand asked how one can promote unity and peace in Manipur if the people continue to identify themselves based on their respective communities.

It is imperative for each and every community to identify themselves as Manipuris in order to build a united Manipur, he said.

Pointing out that Manipur (Meiteilon) language is the lingua franca of all the communities living in Manipur, he said that the Manipuri language shall be used as far as possible in all public functions held in any part of the State.

Each and every resident of Manipur ought to love and promote Manipuri language, he added.

Recalling the Khongjom War, Awa Lan (war against Burmese invaders) and other wars fought by Manipur in the past, Khemchand said that all these wars were fought together by all the communities living together in the State.

It was the 36 communities living together in Manipur who collectively protected the State from external aggression.

The Chief Minister stated that Seva Sankalp Abhiyan programmes which began on September 17 were held across all the districts and more than four lakh people took part in these programmes.

Earlier, India occupied 11th position in the global economic ranking but after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, India's position jumped to the fourth position.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been marching on the path of becoming a developed country by 2047, coinciding with the centenary of its independence, Khemchand said.

However, India can never be called a developed Nation until and unless Manipur is developed.

He said that peace must be restored at the earliest in order to ensure that Manipur does not miss the bus of Viksit Bharat 2047 .

Stating that Narendra Modi is now the longest serving Prime Minister of India, Khemchand said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging the performance of Manipuri players, set up National Sports University in the State.

Introduction of freight service by railway considerably eased people's woes.

Apart from lifting AFSPA from different parts of the State, the Central Government led by Narendra Modi extended the Inner Line Permit System to Manipur, he said.

On being informed about the people's demand to defer census, the Central Government deferred census in Manipur, Khemchand said.

He exuded confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will act in line with the will and aspirations of the people of Manipur.

Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam maintained that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fully convinced the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047 can be achieved.

The Government alone cannot bring peace in Manipur.

All the communities, leaving aside differences of religion and ethnicity, need to work collectively to resolve all issues and bring peace, Govindas said.

He said that guns can never bring peace.

MLAs, Chief Secretary Rajiv Singh Thakur and top Government officials attended the programme presided over by Art & Culture Minister Khuraijam Loken.