Government working for restoration of peace in Manipur: CM

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Friday said the Manipur government is trying to restore peace and normalcy in the State.

He was addressing Sadbhavana Diwas observation here at Manipur Secretariat.

Sadbhavana Diwas’ is observed on August 20 every year to mark the birthday of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi but as it falls on Sunday, the observation was organized on Friday.

The Chief Minister reflecting his opinion on the current crisis in Manipur after clashes started at Churachandpur on May 3 , different opinions have emerged, but peace should be the main objective. To compensate for the losses, employees and the public should work hard, he said. Peace can be restored when people start believing in each other and stop working on ethnic lines.

CM Biren said it’s time to forget the past and work for the future. There will be no development and peace if people start digging differences, he said.

He appealed to the people to come forward and give advice to the government to resolve the crisis.

Biren said that Manipur needs to continue in the path of unity and equal development along which it was moving in the past six years, and that it requires collective effort and trust of all the people.

N. Biren Singh also appreciated the 24×7 monitoring, support and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said that under their guidance and support, it is the time for all the people to be united and to work towards bringing peace and development.

Highlighting that there are also attempts to divert from the issue or to allow the issue to linger on, the Chief Minister said restoration of peace in the State and return to normalcy should be our main focus at the moment.

Stating that one should not speak or discuss issues which could hurt the sentiment of other communities, the Chief Minister further appealed to the people of the State to promote oneness and development.

Speaking on the importance of observing the day, N. Biren Singh said Rajiv Gandhi believed in the welfare and betterment of the people.

On this day, people have been taking the Sadbhavana Pledge and that the pledge will help in promoting national integration and harmony, he added.

The Chief Minister said today we sometimes witness unwanted incidents of violence. These sporadic incidents of violence cause not only loss of precious lives and properties, but also mistrust among one another, he said, adding that this slows down development as well as creating stumbling blocks in building a united Bharat.

Biren Singh also administered the Sadbhavana pledge to those attending the observation. Artistes of the Shri Shri Bal Mukunda Dev Government Music College performed the opening and closing songs of the observation.

UNI