Newmai News Network Imphal | August 19 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that no organisation should ever try to hold the government to ransom in order to achieve demands. Biren stated that his Government is fully aware of the issues besieging the State, and that, it has been putting in serious efforts to resolve all these issues before people resort to any agitation. "However, no organisations/individuals should hold the Government to ransom to fulfill any demand," he maintained. He was speaking at the State level Sadbhavana Diwas celebration organised by the State Government at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles today. Reminding that Nungei violence was reported during the time of the previous Government, the Chief Minister clarified that the file process of providing compensation to the victims was initiated by the then Government. The compensation amount was fixed as per the reports submitted by the DC and SP concerned, and there was no question of supporting a particular community or discriminating any other group, he added. Asserting that the Government is meant for all the communities, the Chief Minister said that he even requested his Cabinet Ministers not to bring any community-based or region-centric matters to State Cabinet meetings. The Government does not belong to any community or region, and it ought to work towards bringing uniform development across the State, he maintained. Biren viewed that Manipur would not be able to march forward towards progress if people keep on remembering the past mistakes and discussing it repeatedly. He said, “We need to keep away distrust and give up self-centric and community-centric ideas if we aspire to project Manipur in the global race of development.” The Chief Minister expressed hope that the civil society organisations of the State would extend co-operation towards this end. Stating that Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated on the birthday of Rajiv Gandhi every year, the Chief Minister opined that the celebration assumed lots of significance in a State like Manipur where people of diverse communities have been settled together harmoniously. During his speech, the Chief Minister remembered the works and achievements of the late Prime Minister. Also speaking on the occasion as the president, Agriculture and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister V. Hangkhanlian remembered Rajiv Gandhi as a leader who dreamt of building a new India. Rajiv Gandhi had the acumen of detecting all the inside and outside challenges in advance which could pose threat to the integrity and development of the country, he said. Maintaining that resolving all the discords on the negotiating table was Rajiv Gandhi’s policy, Hangkhanlian said that he was instrumental in inking Punjab Accord in 1985 and Mizoram Accord in 1986 that brought peace and tranquillity to these two States. The State also needs to follow his idea of peaceful negotiation in order to restore normalcy, peace and tranquillity, V. Hangkhanlian observed. Later, the Chief Minister administered Sadbhavana pledge to the gathering. Ministers, MLAs, top civil and police officers and Government employees also attended the function.
