Gorkhas hold motor rally to back 'War on Drugs'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, January 22 2023:
Hundreds of Gorkhas from across the state on Sunday participated in a bike cum light motor vehicle rally organised in support of the government's 'War on Drugs 2.0' campaign in Kangpokpi district.
The rally was organised under the theme "Stop Poppy Plantation, Save Forests, Save Manipur" by Manipur Gorkha Joint Co-Ordination Committee in collaboration with the state level Gorkha civil bodies, village level clubs, women's society, and authority boards to send a strong message that they are against the menacing poppy cultivation.
The Manipur Gorkha Joint Co-Ordination Committee is formed by Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union, All Manipur Gorkha Students Union, Nepali Sahitiya Parishad Manipur, Bharatiya Gorkha Parishang Manipur Branch and All Manipur Gorkha Ex-Servicemen Association.
Social Welfare minister Heikham Dingo formally flagged off the Gorkha's rally at Kanglatongbi at 8 am in the presence of Kanglatongbi pradhan Meena Bista, convenor Hari Prasad and co-convener LB Adhikari of Manipur Gorkha Joint Co-Ordination Committee, and headmaster of Froebel English School (Kanglatongbi) Gopal Limbu, apart from more than 300 participants of the rally.
During his speech, minister Dingo appreciated the initiative of the Gorkha people in organising such a mega rally which, he hoped, would send a strong message to the people towards the success of the government s War on Drugs.
He also said that when the people of Manipur irrespective of communities come together and fight collectively the issues of poppy and other drugs will be resolved in the state.
The rally proceeded towards Saraswati Junior High School at Parsain village where an awareness seminar was held before it reached Upper Kalapahar for lunch and another awareness seminar there.
At Upper Kalapahar, Kangpokpi additional SP (Ops) Tholu Rocky also attended the awareness seminar and flagged off the rally from Upper Kalapahar which headed towards IT Road (Twilang) area.
Speaking to media persons, Committee co-convenor LB Adhikari, who is also president of All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union, explained that the rally cum awareness programme was organised to show Gorkha people's full support to chief minister N Biren Singh's initiative 'War on Drugs" as responsible citizens of the state.
He continued that the Gorkhas would like to send a strong message to the people of Manipur through the rally to stop (poppy cultivation) once and for all and save our beautiful state, while appealing particularly to the Gorkha people of Manipur to never indulge in poppy cultivation or work as a labourer in poppy plantations, and never get involved in poppy and any other illegal drugs business.
The rally had hearty applause of the people from Kanglatongbi in Imphal West, and Charhajare, Motbung, Koubru Leikha, Prasain, Toribari, Maohing Nepali, Harup Khopi, Gorkha Tapon, Panikheti, Irang Part I, and Poudel Basti in Kangpokpi district.
The organising committee of the rally extended its heartfelt gratitude to Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi district, KSO Sadar Hills, TSA Sadar Hills, Liangmei Naga Council Eastern Zone, All Liangmai Naga Students' Union Manipur apart from DC Kangpokpi, SP Kangpokpi, addl SP, UPI, SP Imphal West, and OC Sekmai and Kangpokpi police stations for their cooperation and support towards the success of the rally.
From Kangpokpi district headquarters, the rally was divided into two groups.
While team A headed to Tujang Vaichong from Chawangkining via Gorkha Tapon and Naga Tapon along the Inter Village Road connecting Chawangkining and Tujang Vaichong Sub Divisional Headquarters, Team B took the state's oldest highway IT Road till Thonglang village and moved toward Indira Junior High School in Irang Part-I via Inter Village Road connecting Thonglang and Irang Part-I.Awareness programmes were also held at Kalapahar, Gorkha Tapon UJB School, Irang Part-II, and Indira Junior High School, Irang Part-I.Then, both the rally teams from Indira Junior High School in Irang Part-I proceeded towards Kanglatongbi via IT Road and later the National Highway at Kangpokpi.
Meanwhile, unknown miscreants using slingshots reportedly damaged the rear windshield of one vehicle of the rallyists around 100 metres away from Chawangkining while the rally teams were moving towards Irang area.
Kangpokpi police personnel immediately rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.
No injury was reported due to the incident.