IMPHAL — Manipur Chief Minister N Biren
Singh on Wednesday sought support from Naga bodies in Senapati district to help
restore peace in the violence-hit northeastern state and asserted that his
government was working hard to bring unity among communities.
Speaking at
a cultural event - Robvena Ni - in Punanamei village, Singh said Manipur has
been facing "hardship in the last 19 months and the situation is improving
gradually by God's grace".
"This
event is based on the theme of getting together, reconciliation and
forgiveness, which are needed in Manipur," Singh said.
"The
role of the people of Senapati district is huge. The role of the Naga Peoples'
Organisation, Senapati District Students' Association, United Naga Council
Headquarters and other civic societies is huge in protecting the unity and
integrity of the state and strengthening the indigenous communities of
Manipur," the chief minister said.
The
Go-to-Hills campaign of the state government was launched to initiate
interactions between residents of the hills and people of the plains, Singh
said.
He also
said another objective of the campaign was to bring the government to the
people of the hills.
"I
came here today to seek help from the people of Senapati district to restore
peace and normalcy in the state," he said.
The chief
minister asserted that it would be "difficult to establish a united
Manipur without equal development and mutual respect" among the people of
the hills and the valley.
Singh also
said the war on drugs campaign was aimed at saving the youths from the menace,
while the identification of illegal immigrants was initiated "through
constitutional provisions to protect the numerically less indigenous
population".
"We
have some 34 recognised tribes, of which 24 or 25 are indigenous. Some people
are old settlers but non-indigenous. For the welfare and unity of all these
tribes, the Sangai Ethnic Park to showcase the culture of each tribe was
established by the government. We tried hard for the unity of all," Singh
said.
The chief
minister claimed that the administration has witnessed "the growth of
villages of unrecognised people in the state through satellite images".
"The
records were not manipulated. We had to consider the population of indigenous
people (in the wake of such growing villages of unrecognised groups). The count
of indigenous Naga people of Mao, Maram, Poumai and others is hardly one lakh.
The population of Tangkhul, the largest Naga sub-tribe, is not much.
"Under
such circumstances, it was necessary to identify illegal immigrants and this
exercise was also conducted through constitutional provisions. Unfortunately,
this led to unwanted incidents and many lives have been lost and many left
homeless," Singh said.
More than
250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence
between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May last year.
Singh also
said efforts are underway to build a Rs 140-crore unity mall in Imphal East
district, which will have stalls from all recognised tribes.
He also
called for the need to expand Senapati town to accommodate the growing
population and infrastructure development.
The chief
minister reached the interior Naga village to attend the programme by
helicopter after the Kuki Zo Council in Churachandpur claimed that it would not
allow him to go to Senapati by passing through Kangpokpi district by road.
