Imphal, February 6: One day after taking office, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh emphasized the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including elected representatives, to restore peace and normalcy in the violence-affected state.
Addressing the assembly, Singh referenced the history of ethnic conflicts in Manipur, recalling the devastating Kuki-Naga clashes that began in 1993, which claimed over 1,000 lives. He described such violence as deeply unfortunate and stressed the need for ongoing efforts to prevent the recurrence of past tragedies.
“To bring back a peaceful environment, it is our collective responsibility,” the Chief Minister stated, urging collaboration to bridge the trust deficit that hinders free movement and the return of displaced individuals to their homes.
The 61-year-old BJP legislator expressed gratitude to opposition members for supporting government initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability in a state that has experienced ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023. President’s rule was imposed on February 13 of the previous year.
Later, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrat adjourned the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Assembly indefinitely. Singh, a member of the majority Meitei community, served as the Speaker of the Manipur Assembly from 2017 to 2022 and was elected twice from the Singjamei constituency in Imphal West as a BJP candidate during the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections.
Following the BJP’s second consecutive victory in the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, he was appointed as a cabinet minister in the second ministry led by N. Biren Singh.
Meanwhile, officials reported that the central government lifted President’s rule in Manipur on Wednesday, paving the way for the formation of a government led by Yumnam Khemchand Singh.