Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on October 16 called for dialogue and mutual understanding to resolve differences among communities in the state, stressing that lasting peace would depend on rebuilding trust rather than relying solely on security measures.
Speaking on the sidelines of a programme, Konthoujam emphasised the importance of bringing communities together for negotiations and encouraging constructive engagement to address the prevailing divisions.
“Peace is brought only through negotiations and not through the barrel of the gun. We must come to an understanding and engage in talks. We must gradually try to erase the trust deficit among us. Security alone cannot do it,” he said.
The minister underlined the shared bonds among the people of Manipur and urged communities to resolve their differences through dialogue.
“All the residents of Manipur are brothers and sisters. We must come to the table and resolve our differences,” he added.
Konthoujam said the state government had taken steps to facilitate discussions among stakeholders, noting that efforts had been made to bring different groups together to address their concerns.
“The government has tried, and we have sat together for talks as well,” he said.
The home minister also highlighted operational challenges faced by security forces during their efforts to maintain peace. He said improved communication facilities often enabled armed miscreants to leave villages before security personnel could reach the areas.
His remarks underscored the challenges of restoring normalcy in Manipur, with dialogue, confidence-building measures and security operations remaining important aspects of efforts to address tensions in the state.