Politics over crisis confusing people, says Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, January 30 2025: Chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday interacted with locals of Khangabok at a public interaction programme held at Khangabok Maisnam Leikai, UYC ground.

During the interaction programme, the chief minister claimed that too much politics over the ethnic issues in Manipur has confused the people and created internal conflicts, along with contending that a section of politicians are hand in glove with those who want to break the state.

Biren said that many people still do not understand the current issues in the state which is gripped by violence between Meetei and Kuki communities leaving over 250 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023 .

He said that the state government's opposition is to the new immigrants in the state who are engaged in drug-related activities and not against anyone who has settled before.

"Our duty is to understand and realise who the real opponents are and who has launched attacks on us.

We have to defend ourselves from them.

However, too much politics has confused the people and created internal conflicts.

Even some politicians are hand in gloves with those who want to break Manipur," he said.

The chief minister, however, did not name any politician or political party.

"Those who want to break Manipur have used agents to provoke us.

Such agents are in Imphal valley and are siding with those who want to break Manipur.

We have to be careful about them," the CM said.

He also asserted that Manipur will be saved and will not break.

"We are all one.

(Members of the communities like) Thadou, Mate, Gangte, Vaiphei, Paite along with Tangkhul, Mao and Maram are all brothers.

All those who have been settled before are all staying together.

Our opposition was only to the new immigrants who are engaged in drug-related activities," he said.

The chief minister also noted that substantial number of people are now aware about genesis of the unprecedented crisis and hence rendering their support and cooperation in taking the state towards peace and normalcy.

He maintained that the state government would always stand firmly to safeguard the unity and integrity of the state and added that the government had done nothing against any of the communities which had been living together since time immemorial, but would stand against those vested interest groups trying to disintegrate the state.

The chief minister was accompanied by power minister Th Biswajit Singh, health minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, CAF & PD minister L Susindro Meitei, MLAs Sapam Kunjakeshwor, Thongam Shanti, Khongbantabam Ibomcha and Md Abdul Nasir among others during the interaction programme.

N Biren and his colleagues, upon their arrival, were accorded a warm welcome by students and locals of Khangabok.

While interacting with the people present at the venue and after listening to the grievances and demands raised, N Biren announced to take up certain development works at Khangabok.

He announced to allocate Rs 50 lakh for installing water pumps at four paddy fields namely Louhonbi, Keipha, Kiyam and Tentharam Loukon.

He further assured to establish an open gym.

Appreciating the public's concern for conserving water bodies, the chief minister assured to include development projects at Ikop Pat and channel cleaning of Louk-hong Pat with allocation of Rs 1.2 crore each in the work programme.

The interaction programme was also attended by representatives of local bodies, self-help groups, village volunteers, and the public of Khangabok among others.

(With inputs from PTI) .

Comment