Manipur CM Khemchand Singh: Dialogue only path to lasting peace
Synopsis
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh used a local TV channel's foundation day to deliver a dual message: cautious hope after visiting a calmer Churachandpur, and a blunt warning that those profiting from the ethnic crisis will be named and held accountable. The same day, he attended the burial of former BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte — 134 days after his death from injuries sustained in the 2023 violence.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on 4 July declared dialogue the only path to lasting peace in the ethnic violence-hit state.
Singh visited Churachandpur and said the district is no longer affected by peak-crisis disruptions.
He warned that individuals benefiting from the chaos would be identified and face action .
The crisis has severely hit the state's economy, revenue collection , and hardest affected the young, poor, and students.
Former BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte , 62, was laid to rest in Churachandpur 134 days after dying from injuries sustained during the 4 May 2023 ethnic violence in Imphal.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday, 4 July emphasised that dialogue is the only viable route to restoring lasting peace in the ethnic violence-hit state, warning that vested interests actively working to prolong the crisis would soon be identified and held accountable. The remarks came during the 5th Foundation Day celebration of a local television channel in Imphal.
Churachandpur Visit Signals Cautious Progress
Earlier on Saturday, Singh visited Churachandpur, and said he was encouraged to find the district no longer gripped by the disruptions that marked the peak of the ethnic crisis. He recalled a telling exchange with a local reporter whose demeanour itself became the message. 'Your smile is the roadmap to peace,' the Chief Minister told the journalist, a line he repeated at the Imphal event to illustrate how far the district had come.
Who Suffers, Who Benefits
Singh was direct about the human cost of the prolonged unrest. He said the crisis has severely damaged the state's economy and eroded government revenue collection. Among the hardest hit, he noted, are the younger generation, the poor, daily wage earners, and students, all of whom have borne disproportionate hardship. At the same time, he acknowledged that a small number of individuals continue to profit from the chaos and therefore have no incentive to see it end.
He urged citizens not to allow such interests to derail collective efforts toward normalcy, adding that those working to break the peace would be identified and face action.
Funeral of Former BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte
The Chief Minister's Churachandpur visit also included attending the funeral service of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and veteran tribal leader Vungzagin Valte, whose mortal remains were finally laid to rest nearly 134 days after his death. Valte, 62, from the Zomi tribal community, had succumbed to injuries at a private hospital in Gurugram on 21 February. His body had been held at Churachandpur District Hospital after being brought from Delhi.
A three-time legislator from the Thanlon Assembly constituency, Valte had been brutally attacked during the ethnic violence in Imphal on 4 May 2023 and underwent prolonged medical treatment in Delhi thereafter. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and two sons.
Key Attendees and Context
The foundation day function was attended by MLA Khumukcham Joykisan Singh, Information and Public Relations (IPR) Director Charanjeet Singh, and channel editor Jit Ningomba, along with media professionals, civil society representatives, and government officials.
This comes amid more than two years of ethnic conflict in Manipur that has claimed lives, displaced thousands, and stalled the state's development agenda. The Chief Minister's dual message — cautious optimism from Churachandpur and a firm warning to peace-breakers — signals that the administration is attempting to shift from crisis management to active reconciliation, even as the path ahead remains uncertain.
Point of View
Even as the government projects normalcy. The 134-day delay in burying Vungzagin Valte is itself a measure of how fractured the ground situation remains — a tribal BJP MLA's body could not reach his home district for over four months. Whether dialogue translates into a structured peace process or remains rhetorical will depend on whether the Centre and state government can bring armed factions to a table that, so far, neither side has formally sat at.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh say about peace on 4 July?
Singh said dialogue is the only viable path to restoring lasting peace in Manipur, warning that individuals benefiting from the ongoing ethnic crisis would be identified and face action. He made the remarks at a television channel's foundation day event in Imphal.
What is the current situation in Churachandpur?
According to the Chief Minister, Churachandpur is no longer affected by the disruptions seen at the height of the ethnic crisis, following his visit to the district on 4 July. Singh described the change as an encouraging sign of progress toward normalcy.
Who was Vungzagin Valte and why was his funeral significant?
Vungzagin Valte was a three-time BJP MLA from the Thanlon Assembly constituency and a veteran Zomi tribal leader. He died on 21 February in Gurugram from injuries sustained during the ethnic violence in Imphal on 4 May 2023, and was buried 134 days later — a delay that reflects the depth of the crisis that prevented his remains from reaching Churachandpur sooner.
How has the Manipur ethnic crisis affected ordinary people?
CM Singh stated that the crisis has severely damaged the state's economy and government revenue. The worst-affected groups include the younger generation, the poor, daily wage earners, and students, who have faced prolonged hardship due to the unrest.
What action has the Manipur government promised against those prolonging the crisis?
CM Singh said that individuals who benefit from the chaotic situation and actively work against peace would be identified and that action would be taken against them, though he did not specify the nature or timeline of such action.
