Guwahati: Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday said BJP alone was pursuing reconciliation between communities and free movement across the violence-hit state.Addressing workers at BJP state office in Imphal, Singh called the violence that began on May 3, 2023, “most unfortunate” and said the party was seeking a resolution through dialogue.“While we did not create this crisis, it is natural for the people to blame us for it. But it is only the BJP that is trying to bring peace and foster dialogues among communities, bring reconciliation and seeking free movement among communities,” he said.Singh said all 36 communities in Manipur must be protected and free movement across community lines was essential to restore normalcy.He highlighted BJP govt’s push for a National Register of Citizens (NRC), saying it was intended to protect the state’s indigenous population.On Sept 2, the assembly reaffirmed its resolutions of Aug 5, 2022, and March 1, 2024, urging the Centre to update the NRC. The Centre has deferred the Census house-listing exercise in Manipur amid protests.Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam told the Assembly last week that 1951 would be the base year for the proposed NRC and records from that year were being traced. He said the state could not implement the exercise without the Centre’s approval.Singh urged BJP workers to publicise the party’s work beyond the conflict, saying its development initiatives were overshadowed by the violence. He asked them to reach out particularly to young people.The chief minister’s comments came ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, with peace, rehabilitation, free movement, NRC and the political demands of the Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga communities likely to remain central to the state’s electoral discourse.
