27th Khongjom Tarpan 'Constructing religious structures inside Khongjom War Memorial Complex is very unfortunate'
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, September 03 2020:
The 27th Khongjom Tarpan was performed today at Khongjom War Memorial Complex and Khongjom Turel.
The event organised by Khongjom War Memorial Trust (KWMT) was held in a low scale following SOPs for COVID-19 due to the pandemic.
A group of people led by KWMT chairman, former Minister Moirangthem Hemanta paid floral tributes to the statue of Paona Brajabashi, followed by a ritual of "Langban Chara Tamba" at Khongjom River.
Speaking to media persons, Moirangthem Hemanta said that KWMT has been observing Khongjom Tarpan since 1994 to remember the martyrs who laid down their lives to safeguard Manipur from the British.
Saying that Khongjom War Memorial Complex was built in memory of those freedom fighters who fought the Mighty British at Khongjom War 1891, he added that constructing structures with religious linkage at this sacred site is very unfortunate.
Asking if the State Government and district administration are unaware of such development taking place and on whose order were the structures constructed, the former Minister said "our forefathers will not forgive those who built religious structures at the same site where heroes of Anglo Manipuri were martyred.
Hemanta further stated that the complex is being remembered by the State Government only once a year.
Claiming that collecting an unauthorised fee for entering Khongjom War Memorial Complex also began since yesterday by a certain organisation, the former Minister further questioned if the district administration and SP are ignoring this unauthorised activity.
"Can people do anything inside this sacred complex as per their whims and fancies," Hemanta asked stating that a certain unauthorised organisation comes out to use Khongjom War Memorial Complex like a garden to earn money due to inattentiveness of the Government.
The State Government doesn't generate any revenue from this unauthorised business, he alleged.
Demanding the State Government to look into the construction of religious structures inside the Khongjom War Memorial Complex, the former Minister cautioned that KWMT will consider this incumbent Government is akin to a dictatorship, where people voice have no place if the demand is not entertained.