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| A religious group performs at the statehood day function in Imphal on Wednesday. A Telegraph Picture |
Imphal, Jan. 22 : Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today announced that the peace process with 20 militant groups in the state was making “good progress”. He renewed his appeal to the rest of the outfits to join the process.
“I am happy to announce that the peace process with some militant groups is making good progress. I appeal to the rest of the groups to come to the democratic process and contribute in making a new Manipur,” Ibobi Singh said, while addressing the statehood day function at the 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground here today.
The Ibobi Singh government is holding talks with these militant groups since August last year.
Ibobi Singh, however, did not elaborate on the progress of the peace process.
His appeal to the armed groups came shortly after a team of the 13th Finance Commission landed at Kangla by helicopter on a three-day visit.
“After attaining statehood in 1972, the state has been making rapid strides in various fields, particularly in the field of education, healthcare, infrastructure development, games and art and culture. We have a vision to include Manipur among the list of developed states of the country by 2020,” he said.
The chief minister, however, expressed his unhappiness that the problem of militancy was in the way of his government’s implementation of development projects.
Stating that his government believed in the democratic process, Ibobi Singh reiterated his appeal to the armed groups.
Health minister Pheiroijam Parijat Singh hoped that the militant groups would respond positively to the chief minister’s appeal .
The statehood day function was a low-key affair. The highlight of the programme was all religious prayers.