On February 4, President’s Rule was revoked in Manipur and a new Chief Minister, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, was sworn in, along with two deputies — Losii Dikho, a Naga, and Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki-Zo. Mr. Dikho, from the Naga People’s Front, an alliance partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), speaks about the priorities of the new government.
It has been over 10 days since the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister and the two Deputy CMs, including you, took place. Why is the full Cabinet not in place and why have portfolios not been allocated yet?
The portfolios will be allocated after the full Cabinet is expanded. I spoke to the Chief Minister, and he agreed with me.
When is it expected?
It should not take much time. And of course, it has to be coordinated with the Centre.
You were the chief guest at a football match organised by the Zomi Council last week at Churachandpur. What was the outcome?
It was a fruitful trip. The nine tribes under the nomenclature Zomi had organised the event. I had a closed-door meeting with all the tribe leaders, the president, and all of them strongly supported the formation of the government. They invited me again for another festival on February 20.
After the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo people erupted on May 3,2023, more than 60,000 people were displaced from their homes. What is the new government’s strategy to rehabilitate them?
This is a priority. Money has been distributed among the people and additional money has been provided to the displaced people who are moving back to their homes.
The Litan area in Ukhrul district has witnessed clashes and arson between the Kuki and Naga communities over the past two weeks? How is the situation now and what is the government’s strategy?
The issue is not between all Nagas and Kukis. Few members of Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis were involved. But we cannot keep silent and we intervened and involved the United Naga Council and the head of the Tangkhul tribe; we joined hands. The land dispute between the two communities should be settled and the land ownership and agreement has to be worked out. Both communities have come to an understanding and stopped the fight but till now no agreement has been signed. But it is almost under control. Naga people do not want to have these tensions any more, but the landowners have to be recognised
The other Deputy CM, Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki-Zo, has not been able to travel to Imphal yet. So how is the government functioning and how are the three of you communicating?
She is at present at her home in Kangpokpi, and every day, we speak on the phone. She is supporting us to reach the people as she cannot come to Imphal. We do virtual video meetings. So far, two Cabinet meetings under the Chief Minister have taken place where she participated through a video call.
What about the free movement of all vehicles and people from all communities on National Highway-2? It hasn’t started yet.
I have spoken to the Deputy CM and our second plan is that we will have a Cabinet meeting in Senapati (Naga area) next. The CM told her that we will go to Senapati by road via Kangpokpi (Kuki-Zo area, NH-2 passes through here) and that we have to reach out to people. As the new government has been installed, there is a good response from all the communities. I reached out to the Thadou people in Kangpokpi, and they have invited me to attend the church on Sunday. It is a positive sign.
