Silchar: Manipur Chief Minister, Nongthombam Biren Singh (often referred to as Yumnam Khemchand Singh), said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the leader who has safeguarded Manipur’s boundaries.
Participating in an election campaign for BJP candidate Rajdeep Goala for the Assam Assembly polls at Rongpur in the Udharbond constituency of Barak Valley in Cachar district, Assam, Khemchand said that Assam’s BJP Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, made the Manipuri language an associate official language of Assam. He urged the Manipuri people of Assam to trust the Sarma-led BJP government.
Praising the Manipuri people of Cachar, Khemchand said that the Manipuris of Barak Valley have immensely contributed to safeguarding the culture and traditions of Manipur.
“People of Cachar have always loved Manipur. Even many Manipuri kings came to Cachar to discuss Manipur’s issues because Manipuris in Cachar are a wealth of knowledge,” he said.
He said that the people of Cachar have always supported Manipur on every issue, including the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the inclusion of the Manipuri language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Khemchand said that during the long Congress rule, the North Eastern states were neglected, which led to disturbances. He said the Congress had always given stepmotherly treatment to the North East, while the BJP has consistently worked for the region’s welfare.
The Manipur Chief Minister added that it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who established the DONER Ministry for the development of the North East region.
Recalling his earlier days in Assam, Khemchand said that he founded the All Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982 and travelled to many parts of Assam to teach the martial art. “I went to Nalbari, Dibrugarh and Cachar to teach Taekwondo. Whenever I hear the word Assam, it touches my heart,” he added.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by seven BJP MLAs and Manipur State BJP President A. Sharda Devi. Both Sharda and Goala also addressed the gathering.
Khemchand later campaigned for a BJP candidate at Laishram Khun, Jaribon under the Hailakandi constituency. During the campaign, he said that the BJP is the only party that believes India cannot develop without the North East. He added that Guwahati has seen significant development under the BJP. He urged Manipuris of Jaribon to vote for the BJP. Khemchand further said that Hailakandi BJP candidate Dr Milon Das, who has a background in the Sangha, is the right choice.
BJP State President A. Sharda Devi said that Khemchand is visiting Jaribon as Chief Minister of Manipur after the late M. Koireng and the late Rishang Keishing.
BJP candidate Dr Milon Das promised Manipuri voters that he would work to fulfil the demand for a Manipuri Autonomous Council in Assam.
AGP State Secretary Koijam Sapon Singh also addressed the meeting.
Khemchand later visited the samadhi of late Naoria Phullo, a Manipuri social reformer, at Jaribon and offered prayers. He also interacted with his family members.