CM slams bandh despite Centre's positive response
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 01 2026: Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand has slammed the act of imposing a general strike today in spite of the positive response given by the Centre.

Yumnam Khemchand who came back today after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and some other Central leaders was accorded a hero's welcome at BJP Manipur Pradesh office (Thambal Shanglen) with Rajya Sabha Member A Sharda, BJP MLAs and workers shouting "Hail BJP", "Hail Narendra Modi", "Hail Amit Shah" and "Hail CM Khemchand" .

Soon after reaching the party office, the Chief Minister held a closed door meeting with A Sharda, BJP MLAs and top office bearers of BJP Manipur Pradesh on the response given by Central leaders regarding the issue of NRC and census.

CM slams bandh despite Centre's positive response

This was followed by a formal reception function organised by BJP Manipur Pradesh in honour of the Chief Minister.

Speaking at the function, Yumnam Khemchand said that BJP Central leaders hold the people of Manipur dearly and they are committed to preserving the integrity of Manipur.

The people of Manipur were demanding ILPS for decades and it was only after BJP came to power at the Centre that the ILPS was extended to Manipur.

BJP leaders enforced ILPS in Manipur with a conviction that the Manipuri people should be protected, Khemchand said.

Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit and other Central leaders have taken up several steps in line with the wishes of the people of Manipur, the Chief Minister said that a decision was taken to defer the census exercise during the meeting held with Amit Shah on August 25 .

But the same decision could not be announced to the public without an official meeting.

That was why, an official meeting was held yesterday and the decision to defer the census exercise was announced to the public, he said.

Saying that BJP Central leaders are well aware of the needs and wishes of Manipuri people, Khemchand said that Manipur was quite peaceful and free from bandhs or blockades during the first term of BJP Government starting from 2017 .

Nobody wished for the violent crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023 but people turned their ire against the BJP Government and this was understandable.

Nonetheless, the BJP Government of the past as well as the PR administration worked hard to resolve the crisis.

The incumbent Government has also been endeavouring to work out a solution, the Chief Minister said.

Following sustained talks with different communities and stakeholders, Imphal-Guwahati transport service through NH-2 has been resumed, he said.

Pointing out that bandhs and blockades always cause extreme hardship to the common people, particularly daily wage earners and disrupt education, Khemchand appealed to all sections of people to explore alternative ways of pressing demands.

The general strike/bandh imposed today when Central leaders have agreed to take up necessary action in line with the people's wishes is nothing short of the Manipuri saying "Tongjei Maril Da Shamu Lithallu (Let an elephant pass through a small pipe)", he remarked.

He once again appealed to all concerned not to impose bandhs or general strikes in the interest of the people.

Informing that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will come to Manipur in October, the Chief Minister hailed the efforts of BJP MLAs and CSOs who went to Delhi and urged Central leaders to address the concerns and wishes of the people of Manipur.

MLAs Kh Joykisan, Th Shyamkumar, Dr S Ranjan, H Dingo, Th Basantakumar, Paonam Brojen, Sapam Kunjakeswar, Kh Raghumani, Dinganglung Gangmei, Thangjam Arunkumar, Dr Usham Deben and Md Achab Uddin were also present at the function.