Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday called on Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and urged him to raise a Territorial Army (TA) battalion for the state.
According to an official statement issued by the Manipur Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the Defence Minister assured full assistance from the Ministry for any initiative undertaken by the state government. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho of the Naga People’s Front (NPF).
This was Singh’s first meeting with the Defence Minister after being sworn in as Manipur’s new BJP Chief Minister on February 4.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister met Nitin Nabin, president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), at the party’s national headquarters in New Delhi. He was accompanied by his two Deputy Chief Ministers — Dikho (NPF) and Nemcha Kipgen (BJP). Kipgen, who hails from Kangpokpi district, is the first woman to hold the post of Deputy Chief Minister in Manipur.
During the meeting, Nabin discussed organisational issues relating to the strengthening of the party’s state unit. He also urged the Chief Minister to expedite efforts towards the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), assuring all possible support from the party.
Singh was elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party in New Delhi on February 3. He is the first Chief Minister from BJP to assume office after Nabin took charge as the party’s national president. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister also met the party’s National General Secretary, B. L. Santosh.