Realization day on April 17
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 24 2015:
All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) will observe Realization Day on April 17, the day which reminds loss of lives of two leaders of the student's body in the mass movement on 'foreigners issue' in 1980 .
Speaking to reporters at their office at DM College campus, AMSU secretary general Manjit Sarangthem said that the State witnessed sudden rise in non-local population after the then Chief Commissioner Himmat Singh lifted the restrictions imposed on entry of 'outsiders' in the State in 1950 .
Saying that AMSU has been demanding the Government to check unregulated entry of non-locals and protect indigenous people, Manjit said that AMSU leaders Huidrom Lokendro and Potsangbam Premananda died in an agitation staged on the issue in 1980 .
Accusing the Government of not taking up any measure to check influx of non-locals into the State, Manjit said that AMSU would oppose the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 as the Bill would damage the social structure of indigenous population instead of protecting them.
Reminding the understanding arrived at between the State Government and AMSU in 1980 and 1994, Manjit said that sending off of the non-locals who entered into the State after 1951 was one of the points which the Government had agreed.
He said that as part of this year's Realization Day observance, AMSU would organise street corner meetings and poster campaigns from April 3 .
Manjit further said that the issue of fast changing demographic structure of the State would be mainly deliberated in class mobilisation programmes to be held from April 6 in educational institutes including Manipur University.
A mass blood donation camp would be organised on April 15, he said and added that as a part of the main observance function to be held on April 19, a silent rally would be taken out from Pishum Chingamacha to THAU ground.
Manjit urged the general public to make the observance a grand success.