President Droupadi Murmu calls upon the people of Manipur to continue supporting measures for harmony and development.
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IMPHAL — President of India Droupadi Murmu, during her maiden two-day visit to Manipur, called upon the people of Manipur to continue supporting measures for harmony and development.
"I urge the people of the state to continue supporting measures for harmony and development," the President said on Thursday.
"Let us together strengthen Manipur as a state where every child feels safe, every woman feels empowered, every community feels included and every citizen moves ahead towards a brighter future."
Addressing a civic reception of the state government at City Convention Centre in Imphal East district, Murmu also said that she is aware of the pain that the people of Manipur have gone through following unfortunate violence.
Also read: People of Manipur govt’s top priority: President Murmu
"I want to assure you that taking care of the concerns of the people of Manipur is the highest priority for us," she said.
Stating that the people of Manipur are talented and hardworking, she expressed confidence that "the people from the valley and the hills will remain together with renewed harmony and take the state to great heights of prosperity and happiness."
During the civic reception, the President also laid foundation stones for 14 projects worth INR 1180 crore, apart from inaugurating 12 development projects worth INR 207 crores soon after Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla concluded his speech.
Former state Chief Minister N Biren Singh, former Union Ministers Th Chaoba Singh and DR RK Ranjan Singh, MLAs, top civil and police officials of the state government and central agencies were also present during the civic reception.
Prior to attending the reception function, Murmu, accompanied by the state governor, visited the historic Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest polo ground in the world, to witness exhibition matches of Sagol Kangjei-traditional polo and contemporary polo.
Earlier, the President who arrived in Imphal on Thursday afternoon was received by the Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport where she was given a ceremonial guard of honour before departing for Lok Bhavan (Governor’s residence).
On Friday, the visiting President will attend Nupi Lan day observation in Imphal to pay tribute to Manipur’s women freedom fighters and travel to the Senapati district, where she is scheduled to address a public gathering and launch development initiatives.
Shutdown hits normal life: A state-wide shutdown to protest the visit of President Droupadi Murmur by armed insurgent groups, affected normal life in the state, particularly in Imphal valley on Thursday.
The shutdown, which came into force from 1am of Thursday was called by Coordination Committee (CorCom), a committee of armed insurgent groups in Manipur, to boycott the President’s visit. The shutdown, which exempts essential and emergency services, is scheduled to continue till the President leaves the state.
In view of the shutdown, all roads leading to Imphal wore deserted look since early morning as the local transport services and others suspended their daily activities in the state, particularly in Imphal.