Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh engaged in a war of words on National Anti-Terrorism Day on Thursday.
While Khemchand urged collective unity to defeat extremism, Ibobi criticised both the state and central governments for allegedly acting as “silent spectators” amid ongoing violence.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said terrorism remains a grave threat to humanity and must be opposed in every form, while former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh accused the government of remaining silent spectators to repeated incidents of terrorism in the state.
On National Anti-Terrorism Day 2026, observed on Thursday, Khemchand called on the people to reaffirm their collective commitment to peace, unity, and harmony.
“Terrorism remains a grave threat to humanity and must be opposed in every form,” he said. In a social media post, he stated, “We pay tribute to all victims of terror and stand in solidarity with their families.” He added, “Let us remain united and resolute in our shared mission to defeat terrorism and uphold the values of peace, democracy, and national integrity.”
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee observed National Anti-Terrorism Day at Congress Bhavan to mark the 35th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Okram Ibobi Singh, while paying floral tributes to the portrait of the former Prime Minister, accused both the Centre and the state government of remaining silent spectators to repeated incidents of terrorism in Manipur, which he claimed occur almost every week.
He was speaking against the backdrop of terrorism and armed insurgency in Manipur, which stem from complex ethnic rivalries, disputes over land and resources, secessionist movements, and porous international borders.
The state’s security landscape features a mix of Meitei, Naga, and Kuki-Zo militant outfits alongside recent escalations in localised ethnic violence.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also stressed the need for national unity against terrorism.
“Across the entire country, not only in Manipur but everywhere, we must stand united against terrorism,” Ibobi added.