RNYO appeals Govt to construct Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum at Noney
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 16 2020:
The Rongmei Naga Youth Organization (RNYO) has appealed the State Government to construct the Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum at Noney and also to name it after Rani Gaidinliu as initially approved by the National Level Committee (NLC).
The organization in a statement said that the NLC in its meeting on February 2, 2020 had categorically stated that the Government of Manipur had made a presentation on "Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum" and shared the project status which mentioned that the museum will be named after the woman freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu.
However, the concerned Ministry of the State Government had laid the foundation stone on September 13, 2020 for construction of "Tribal Freedom Museum" at Makhel in Senapati District and removed the name "Rani Gaidinliu" from it, it stated.
By doing so, the State Government has done injustice to the veteran tribal freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu and has given an opportunity to raise claims by the Kuki community (Kuki Inpi Manipur in its letter addressed to the Chief Minister), when there are no prominent women freedom fighter from the Kuki community and therefore they have no locus standi to claim on this project, it added.
Therefore, RNYO has demanded that the museum should be named after Rani Gaidinliu as approved by the NLC intitially when the State Government made its presentation.
The NLC had also laid down parameters for construction of the said museum that facilities such as regular power supply, police station, fire brigade, ATM, market, restaurant, Public Health Centre, etc has to be available around the site.
The RNYO, supported by Zeliangrong Civil Organizations had visited the site at Makhel and found that none of the mentioned facilities were available at the proposed site.
Moreover, the site is situated in the remote paddy area of Makhel village and is also about 120 kms from Imphal, whereas one of the guideline is that the museum should be close to the State Capital, it further stated.
RNYO stated that it may be compelled to file a case under proper section of Law based on NLC minutes of its meetings.
However, the organization believe that the State Government will do justice and shift the location of the museum to Noney, which also meets the parameters laid down by NLC.
In view of the reasons and circumstances stated above, RNYO has strongly appealed to the State Government to select Noney district as the location for the construction of the said museum and to name it as "Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum" .