Some people trying to hamper rehabilitation: Mnp MLA

Manipur BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday alleged that the efforts for resettlement and rehabilitation of the IDPs were being hampered by a section of people who were not in the staying in the relief camps.
He wondered what was the reason behind obstruction even as internally displaced persons (IDPs) wished to resettle to their original places.
The former Speaker and minister in the N Biren Singh led BJP’s coalition government until the Centre imposed President’s Rule in February last, was in the news recently when he had ventured to Kuki villages besides visiting a relief camp in Kamjong district where internally displaced persons (IDPs) of the same tribe were taking shelter since the unfolding of the ongoing crisis in May 2023.
He claimed that the IDPs of both the communities in conflict were longing to return to their native villages.
Speaking at an event in Imphal on Sunday, the MLA claimed that the IDPs of both the conflict affected communities were longing for resettlement in their respective native places.
He said that during a brief interaction at a relief camp at Litan in Tangkhul dominated Kamjong district, he learnt that the IDPs have a strong desire to return to their villages.
He said IDPs languishing at relief camps in even in valley districts also have a strong desire to return to their villages and are seeking to speed up the government’s efforts to resettle them. Even though the IDPs liked to resettle, some sections of people who were not in the relief camps were mobilizing to jeopardize resettlement efforts. “I wonder why they are against the resettlement of the IDPs,” he said, asserting that Manipur is home to various diverse communities and they are bound by a strong bondage of brotherhood.
The MLA revealed that his recent venture to Kuki villages and visit to a relief camp of the tribe was not a pre-planned one.
He said that on the way to Kamjong district, he and his entourage stopped at Litan for a brief break where they entered a hotel run by a Tanghkul. He he was informed there that members of Kuki tribe were among the vendors of the local market and they (Kukis) would be delighted if vegetables and meats they were selling were bought.
Agreeing with the suggestion, he bought some goods from the Kuki vendors who extended a warm welcome to him and thanked him for buying their goods, the MLA said.
They also informed him about a relief camp for the IDPs there and suggested that they would be grateful if he (as an MLA) visited the relief camp and hear their grievances.
“Without any second thought, we proceeded and interacted with the IPDs and interacted with them,” Singh said, and added during the conversation, they expressed their strong desire to return to their respective villages.
Similarly, the Meitei IDPs also expressed their strong desire to return to their native places and they were pressing the authorities of the state government to speed up the resettlement and rehabilitation efforts by way of demonstrating on the streets, the MLA said. Notably, during the recent visit, the MLA had expressed his strong desire to work together with all the communities living in the state for restoration of peace and normalcy.
He had also called to forgive and forget one another and strive to bring peace and equal development to the state.
The IPDs cried while conveying their weary and longing for normalcy to return so that they can go back home at the earliest.