Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh calls for unity at Kom community festival

Guwahati: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called upon the people to safeguard Manipur and the legacy left behind by their forefathers.

The Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the Annual Berkap-Reiju Festival 2026, held at BOAT, Imphal. The festival was organised by the Kom Union Manipur (KUM).

He further stated that Manipur had been protected by 36 different communities, whose members had bravely fought against the British during the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and against the Burmese during the Seven Years' Devastation to save Manipur. He urged everyone to work together in a collective spirit for a peaceful and harmonious Manipur.


Speaking about his recent meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that he had informed the Prime Minister that Manipur was inhabited by 36 different communities and that these communities had been living together in harmony since the time when Manipur was ruled by kings.

He also expressed concern that all development activities in the State had stopped due to the sudden crisis.

He said that the Prime Minister had asked him whether there was any integrity committee comprising members from each community. In reply, he told the Prime Minister that he was planning to form such a committee.

The Chief Minister said that Manipur was home to many different communities, but there were also some small communities with very small populations that had not even had a chance to elect an MLA from their own community to represent them in the State Assembly.

Referring to other States in the country, Singh said that they had bicameral legislatures with two Houses: the Upper House and the Lower House. He said that such a model could be adopted in the State and that resource mobilisation would be necessary for this.

The Chief Minister further said that he would invite Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba to discuss ways to help small communities with small populations participate in development activities by including one member from each community in the proposed committee.

The Chief Minister also said that although Manipur had a small population, it was known as the powerhouse of sports in India. He said that even a small community like the Kom had produced an Olympian such as MC Mary Kom. Such an example showed that the people were hardworking and that the State had abundant human resources.

Referring to Singapore, Khemchand Singh said that it was a small island nation where four major communities and more than 100 small communities lived together. In 1964, these communities fought against each other, and the situation became very bad. After that, all the communities sat together for dialogue and decided to live as one in harmony.

He further said that Manipur could learn perseverance, peace, harmony, coexistence and unity from Singapore. Because of these qualities, Singapore had become a developed nation. Today, Singapore has the highest per capita income in the Southeast Asian region.

He also announced that Rs. 5 lakh would be given to the festival's organising committee.

The Berkap-Reiju Festival is a significant traditional and cultural awakening festival of the Kom tribe in Manipur. It celebrates and revives the rich cultural heritage, distinct identity, traditional values and unity of the Kom community.