Manipur CM visits Jiribam, urges IDPs to bridge trust gap

Imphal: Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand on Wednesday visited Jiribam district on the southern Assam border, meeting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in relief camps and calling for cooperation to restore peace and development.Khemchand began at the Jiribam Higher Secondary School campus relief camp housing Meitei IDPs, urging efforts to bridge divisions. “Jiribam is the gateway to Manipur and has a potential to become a business hub. Like Mumbai is India’s business capital, Jiribam can be Manipur’s Mumbai. For the business to flourish, peace has to come first,” he said.He then visited the Kalinagar relief camp for Hmar tribal IDPs, part of the Kuki-Zo-Hmar umbrella community, and appealed for reconciliation. “Let us consider the last two years was a nightmare, let us forget it and have the courage to move forward towards peace and development,” he said, also citing Christian teachings on forgiveness and love for neighbours and enemies.Khemchand later went to Jarolpokpi Hmar village, which saw violence during the conflict, marking his second visit to Kuki-Zo-Hmar villages since Dec 8, when he visited Litan Sareikhong in Ukhrul district and met Kuki IDPs. “I feel someone is trying to destroy the concept of Manipuri. First, we are Indian and then we are Manipuri. We can be Manipuri Naga, Manipuri Kuki and Manipuri Meitei. We need to rebuild the concept of Manipuri,” he told villagers.Villagers expressed support for his govt and urged attention to local needs, including a school building.Khemchand also visited Mongbung Meitei village, where he again called for dialogue to reduce mistrust. “Since I took oath as chief minister last week, my trip to Jiribam is the first one outside Imphal. I feel Jiribam is the most important place in Manipur and has the potential to become a business centre. For Jiribam to become a business hub, peace is essential,” he said.He said the district administration was addressing IDP concerns and that houses for homeless IDPs were under construction and expected to be completed by March.Speaking to the media on the sidelines, Khemchand said he was committed to a unified Manipur beyond caste and community lines.During the visit, he laid the foundation stone of the IRB Barracks at the 87-Bn CRPF headquarters.