Inimical forces at work to destabilise Manipur : CM

OSR/DIPR
IMPHAL, Aug 16 : The unrest which Manipur has been witnessing is the handiwork of a group of inimical forces which want to break the State apart, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
He made the statement while attending the 78th Independence Day celebration at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, yesterday.
The Chief Minister hoisted the tricolour flag of India to mark the commencement of the observance.
Later, N Biren received a salute from the march past contingents viz Civil Police, CRPF, BSF, Manipur Rifles, 9th IRB (women ), Home Guards,  Manipur Central Jail, VDF, Fire Services, Traffic Police, NCC and students among others.
Saklemba Rajkumar, Commandant of 4th IRB, was the parade commander.
Cultural dances were also performed as part of the function.
Speaking at the function, the Chief Minister said that the effort being put by inimical forces to disintegrate Manipur will never succeed.
Saying that the ongoing turmoil in Manipur is unfortunate, he added that a collective effort is needed to restore normalcy in the State.
Every individual has to take responsibility to end the unrest, N Biren said.
The Chief Minister further stated that badmouthing one another won't solve the crisis besieging the State.
Continuing that Manipur doesn't belong to just one community, he asserted that Manipur is for the 34 communities recognised by the Government.
Manipur is like a charming garden where these recognised communities have been living together for ages, he added.
Reiterating that the unrest in Manipur was orchestrated by illegal immigrants who want to break the State apart, the Chief Minister asked what would be the future of Manipur if the threat being posed to the State was overlooked.
Appealing to all concerned to set aside all personal  and political agendas to end the conflict and safeguard the State, N Biren added that peace can be restored in Manipur if all work together sincerely for the cause.
The Chief Minister further appealed to all the people to distance themselves from those trying to mislead them with their political agendas.
It is time for all to stand united against the divisive force without any political or personal agenda, he added.
N Biren went on to state that a section of self-centred people who don't want Manipur to progress started the conflict as their design was to destabilize the State.
Maintaining that the unrest has taken a heavy toll on all the people, the Chief  Minister said that the State Government has been providing facilities for accommodation, health care and education to both the warring communities.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the various initiatives taken up for the welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He said that the IDPs are provided shelter at different relief camps and prefabricated houses.
Saying that the Government has been providing essential items to the IDPs of both the affected communities, he continued that benefits amounting Rs 300 crore have also been provided to 4 lakh beneficiaries under 46 schemes by giving more emphasis on IDPs through Direct Benefit Transfer.
N Biren Singh also talked of eight new schemes which were inaugurated recently such as Special Package to Successful Start-Ups for Employment of IDPs, CM Yarn Scheme, Revised Comic Textbooks and Sportspersons Livelihood Scheme among others.
The foundation stone for the Imphal Ring Road Project amounting to Rs 1776 crore (approx.) has also been laid, he said.
Saying that the world’s tallest pier railway bridge at Noney will also be completed soon, he added that the 111 km long Imphal-Jiribam Railway project will connect  Imphal with other places of the country.
The State Government has been providing assistance to those affected in the recent natural calamities in rebuilding their houses, the Chief Minister said and added that the Government will also repair all roads and bridges damaged in the natural hazards and disasters.
Further stating that the Government is also trying to improve health care facilities, he said that foundation stones have been laid to construct 11 health infrastructure.
Further in his speech, the Chief Minister highlighted the digitisation of official work and stressed on the use of e-services portal, applications and websites.
The Chief Minister expressed the commitment of the Government to work harder to make up for the lost time and take Manipur back to what it was before.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister handed over the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Training for the Year 2021-22 to four police officers and personnel.