Manipur to form committee of all 36 communities for peace, says CM Khemchand Singh

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said on Saturday that the State government will form a committee representing all 36 communities to promote peace, harmony and inclusive development in the strife-hit State.

Mr. Khemchand Singh said the proposal followed a query from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about whether such a committee existed to bring all communities together. He was speaking at an event to felicitate hill chiefs of different tribes at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal.

The event was held after the inauguration of the Hill (Tribal) Chiefs’ Guest House at Palace Compound as part of the Mera Hou Chongba Festival 2026. The festival celebrates peace and brotherhood among the different tribes and communities of Manipur.

The Chief Minister said all communities had contributed to defending and safeguarding Manipur. He recalled the Anglo-Manipur War and the Seven Years’ Devastation to pay tribute to the sacrifices made to protect the State’s land, identity and heritage.

Mr. Khemchand Singh expressed hope that the festival would usher in peace and prosperity and strengthen the spirit of brotherhood. He also expressed happiness that people from the hill areas, including some who were earlier reluctant to visit Imphal, joined the festival this year.

He said the guest house is not merely a physical structure but a symbol of brotherhood between the hills and the valley.

Manipur is home to 36 communities with distinct languages, customs and traditions. The hill areas are largely inhabited by tribal communities, while the valley is home to the Meitei community and others. The State has experienced prolonged ethnic conflict in recent years, which has deepened divisions between hill and valley communities.

The proposed committee is intended to bring representatives of all communities onto a common platform. The Chief Minister said it would represent all 36 communities, but did not specify how members would be chosen, what its mandate would be, or when the panel would be set up.

The Mera Hou Chongba festival is traditionally observed as an occasion to reinforce ties among Manipur’s diverse communities. This year’s event brought together hill chiefs and other community representatives in the State capital, amid continuing efforts to restore normalcy and promote inclusive development.

The announcement comes as the State government seeks to address concerns over representation and development in both hill and valley areas. Officials did not immediately provide further details about the committee’s proposed role or its expected timeline.

At the felicitation event, the Chief Minister acknowledged the role of hill chiefs in preserving local customs and traditions. The gathering was part of the festival’s programme to celebrate the bond between hill and valley people.

The Anglo-Manipur War refers to the 1891 conflict, while the Seven Years’ Devastation is remembered as a period of hardship in Manipur’s history. Mr. Khemchand Singh invoked these episodes to underline what he described as the shared sacrifices of Manipur’s communities.

The Chief Minister’s remarks underlined the State government’s focus on symbolic and institutional measures to rebuild trust. The proposed committee, if formed, would be among the formal mechanisms for dialogue among communities, though its effectiveness will depend on how it is constituted and empowered.