The Meitei Alliance extended its congratulations to Yumnam Khemchand Singh on his swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Manipur, and to Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho as Deputy Chief Ministers and to the Council of Ministers on the formation of the new popular government.
In a press release, the Meitei Alliance said Manipur has endured nearly three years of grave violence that manifested as ethnic conflict, leading to unprecedented humanitarian, social, and institutional breakdown and as such the inauguration of an elected government today therefore carries immense responsibility, hope, and expectation from the people of the state.
It reiterated that the present crisis is not an isolated event, but the outcome of decades of misgovernance and systemic failure. Among the core root causes are the controversial and unchecked Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with armed militant groups, uncontrolled illegal immigration from neighbouring countries, the steady expansion of the Golden Triangle drug network into Manipur, and large-scale illegal encroachment of reserved and protected forest lands, it said.
It urged the Chief Minister to accord top priority to the safe, dignified, and time-bound return of all internally displaced persons from relief camps to their respective places of origin, with adequate security, rehabilitation, and justice mechanisms.
The Meitei Alliance placed certain demands before the new government to be pursued strictly through fair governance and the rule of law under the Constitution of India.
It demanded abrogation of the controversial SoO agreements, identifying of illegal immigration through lawful mechanisms such as NRC, delisting of the ambiguous Any Kuki Tribe category from the Scheduled Tribe list, eradication of poppy cultivation and drug networks that run a narco-economy which fuels divisive ethnocentric politics and eviction of illegal encroachers from reserved and protected forests.
It expressed belief that durable peace in Manipur can only be achieved through impartial governance, equal application of law, institutional accountability, and constitutional morality.
The Meitei Alliance also appealed to all the people of Manipur to extend their constructive support to the new government in performing its constitutional duties, so that long-term peace and harmony can be restored.
