Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that universities and educational institutions should be free from disturbances and should not be a ground for politics and any miscreant activities.

Biren was speaking during the inauguration of the Art and Culture building and an Open Gym and laying foundation stones for a 33/11 KVA Sub Station and swimming pool inside the Manipur University campus in Imphal on Monday.

Addressing a formal function in this connection inside the Manipur University Auditorium, Biren stressed on the importance of a gym to keep a fit body in the modern world where physical movement has decreased.

The Chief Minister said that all educational institutes including Universities, schools and colleges are temples and those coming out successfully from these institutes especially the university are the ones that contribute, guide and shape the society.

Acknowledging the importance of a university, the Chief Minister said that the government has always tried not to neglect any issue or proposal concerning the university.

The Chief Minister further assured to ensure that the construction of swimming pool is completed within a year. Reminding that he was attending a function in the same auditorium in the presence of the Vice President of India on May 2023 when the unfortunate violence in the State broke out, the Chief Minister prayed for peace to return in the State.

He also expressed the need to conduct a proper discussion on the present situation with faculties, teachers, researchers and students in the university to understand the core issues of the conflict.

Now is the time for struggle filled with many adversities and challenges, but one should be aware of the goal, he added.

The Chief Minister further talked of the responsibilities of educational institutes like universities to clear confusions of the people. Touching on issues surrounding border fencing and others, the Chief Minister said seminars or legal camps need to be conducted to create awareness among the people could be conducted to clear confusions.

Our society will move forward when people start acting with a sense of belongingness to the land and a sense of ownership of the land, he said.