Manipur CM meets Droupadi Murmu, briefs her on evolving situation in state

New Delhi/Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital on Wednesday.

The President's office shared a picture of the meeting in a post on X.

"Chief Minister of Manipur Yumnam Khemchand Singh called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan," it said.

Singh, too, took to X to announce the meeting.

"Honoured to call on Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu Ji at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Briefed her on the evolving situation in Manipur and the coordinated response underway. Reiterated that unity, harmony, and peace remain our guiding principles," he said in the post.

Singh was sworn in as the 13th chief minister of the strife-torn state on February 4. It came nearly a year after the resignation of N Biren Singh, following months of ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, leading to the imposition of President's Rule.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.

The Manipur government under Singh recently held talks with representatives of the Kuki Zo Council in Guwahati, for the first time in nearly three years after the ethnic conflict broke out in 2023, to explore the scope of peace and rebuilding trust between Meiteis and Kuki Zo communities in the state.

In a Facebook post later on Wednesday, Singh said key issues concerning peace, stability, and the restoration of normalcy in Manipur were discussed with the President.

"I had the privilege of apprising Her Excellency of the evolving situation in Manipur and the calibrated and coordinated response being undertaken to address the prevailing challenges," he said.

"Unity, harmony, and peace remain the guiding principles of our approach, as we continue to work with utmost commitment towards safeguarding the well-being of all citizens," the chief minister added.

A BJP functionary in Manipur said the CM is also expected to meet the party leadership in New Delhi and hold discussions in connection with the likely expansion of the cabinet.

In another post, the President's office said that Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), along with his spouse Sabiha Hasnain, also called on Murmu.

Hasnain was sworn in as the Governor of Bihar on March 14.

"Governor of Nagaland Nand Kishore Yadav called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan," the President's office said in a separate post.