Manipur Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, National People’s Party (NPP) president, said that the search for peace in Manipur could not be achieved without the reconstruction of IDPs’ homes and the restoration of trust among different communities residing in the state on Saturday.
In Imphal on the second day of his two-day visit, Sangma told the reporters that the ‘very complicated situation’ in Manipur could only be resolved with patience as there would be a need for continuous talks and confidence-building exercises with all stakeholders.
While urging the people to keep moving, Sangma said it would be hard to check recent events; the people of Manipur had suffered so much that just looking at past events won’t facilitate return to normalcy. He noted the need for peace to be realised over the years, and peace could only be realised through continuous engagement and trust among communities.
According to the CM, while he met NPP legislators, party leaders, youth representatives and office-bearers in Manipur during his visit, the discussions had focused on the prevailing condition in Manipur and not any organisational issue. He said the emphasis was on how this could be a contribution to stability and peace for those that have been impacted by violence, and support for them.
Sangma admitted there was no solution to the crisis immediately but that it was necessary to work on restoring confidence to communities in the long term. He affirmed that it is a matter of political party’s responsibility to communicate with all segments of society and foster the dialogue for the development of social harmony.
The rehabilitation of IDPs was one of the greatest priorities of NPP and till now the party has given financial support to the affected families, continued to advocate for them to return home safely and to be rehabilitated, Sangma highlighted. He highlighted that trust building and their welfare has to be integral in all efforts for the purpose of restoring long-lasting peace in Manipur.