Manipur CM Khemchand Singh urges unity across communities to restore peace
Synopsis
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh drew on the state's shared history of inter-community resistance during the 1819-1826 Burmese War to appeal for unity across all 36 communities, while assuring displaced persons of safe return. The speech, delivered at a development project inauguration in Imphal East, reflects intensifying pressure on political leadership to deliver a credible path out of Manipur's prolonged ethnic crisis.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on 22 September 2026 called on all communities to set aside political differences and work together to restore peace.
He appealed to all 36 communities in Manipur, including the Naga, Kuki, Meitei , and Meitei Pangal communities, to prevent further conflict.
The CM recalled the Seven Years Devastation (1819–1826) as a historical example of inter-community solidarity against a common threat.
He assured ethnic violence-affected IDPs that every effort would be made to facilitate their safe return home.
Five development projects under the Keirao Assembly Constituency were inaugurated, including the Modern Agro Market Complex (Nupi Keithel) at Kiyamgei supported by the Ministry of DoNER .
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, called upon people across the state to set aside political differences and collectively work toward restoring peace in Manipur, citing the welfare of future generations as the overriding imperative. His appeal came during the inauguration of five development projects under the Keirao Assembly Constituency in Imphal East district.
Call for Unity Across 36 Communities
Speaking at the inauguration event held at Arapti Lilong Mapal Kangjeibung in Imphal East, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh acknowledged that people on both sides of the ongoing ethnic conflict have endured prolonged hardships. He appealed to all 36 communities living together in Manipur — including the Naga, Kuki, Meitei, and Meitei Pangal communities — to play a greater role in preventing further violence. He stressed that development cannot take root where conflict persists, and urged that the interests of the younger generation be placed above political divisions.
Historical Parallel: The Seven Years Devastation
In a notable invocation of shared history, the Chief Minister recalled the Seven Years Devastation — the Manipur-Burmese War of 1819 CE to 1826 CE — during which leaders of the Naga, Kuki, Meitei, and Meitei Pangal communities had collectively resisted and ultimately driven out Burmese forces from Manipur's soil. Khemchand Singh drew on this legacy of inter-community cooperation as a model for the present moment, urging all groups to revive that spirit of collective effort to overcome the current crisis.
Assurance to Internally Displaced Persons
The Chief Minister also interacted with ethnic violence-affected Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the event, listening to their concerns. When IDPs expressed their desire to return to their homes, he reportedly assured them that every possible effort would be made to facilitate safe returns. The number of IDPs in Manipur has remained a pressing humanitarian concern since ethnic clashes first broke out in May 2023, with tens of thousands still unable to return to their villages.
Five Development Projects Inaugurated
The five projects launched on Tuesday included the Modern Agro Market Complex (Nupi Keithel) at Kiyamgei, developed with support from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The remaining projects were taken up at different locations across the Keirao constituency. Keirao MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei expressed confidence that peace would return to Manipur in due course and appreciated the Chief Minister's ongoing efforts. He also urged citizens to extend greater cooperation in the peace-restoration process.
Broader Context
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic conflict since May 2023, when clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities triggered widespread violence, displacing thousands and claiming hundreds of lives according to official figures. Tuesday's address marks one of the Chief Minister's more direct public appeals for cross-community reconciliation, and comes amid continued pressure from civil society groups and the Centre for a durable political settlement. How communities and political actors respond to the call remains to be seen.
Point of View
Where ethnic distrust runs deep and thousands of IDPs remain unable to return home more than two years after conflict erupted. The inauguration of development projects in a conflict-affected constituency signals a return-to-normalcy narrative, but that narrative remains contested on the ground. The credibility of the CM's assurances to IDPs will ultimately be tested not by speeches but by whether safe-return corridors are actually operationalised in the weeks ahead.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh say about restoring peace?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called on all 36 communities in Manipur to set aside political differences and work together to restore peace, emphasising the welfare of future generations. He argued that development is impossible in areas where conflict continues.
Who are the IDPs the Manipur CM referred to, and what did he promise them?
The IDPs are Internally Displaced Persons affected by the ethnic violence that began in May 2023 in Manipur. The CM reportedly assured them that every possible effort would be made to facilitate their safe return to their respective homes.
Why did the CM invoke the Seven Years Devastation in his speech?
The Seven Years Devastation refers to the Manipur-Burmese War of 1819 to 1826 CE, during which Naga, Kuki, Meitei, and Meitei Pangal communities worked together to drive out Burmese forces. The CM cited this as a historical precedent for inter-community solidarity, urging the same spirit to address the current ethnic crisis.
What development projects were inaugurated in Imphal East?
Five development projects under the Keirao Assembly Constituency in Imphal East were inaugurated, including the Modern Agro Market Complex (Nupi Keithel) at Kiyamgei, built with support from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
How long has the ethnic conflict in Manipur been ongoing?
The current wave of ethnic violence in Manipur began in May 2023, primarily between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. It has resulted in hundreds of deaths and displaced tens of thousands of residents, many of whom remain in relief camps more than two years later.
