Oath to safeguard Manipur's integrity reaffirmed on Integrity Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2014: On the occasion of the 17th Integrity Day, people today paid rich tributes at the Integrity Pillar located beside the historic Polo Ground here before assembling for a public meeting at MDU Hall where the gathering re-affirmed the collective pledge to protect the integrity of Manipur.

The commemorative function was organised by the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) .

Majority of the speakers who addressed the gathering dealt with the multiple challenges and threats to Manipur and its territory.

Reiterating that the territorial integrity of Manipur can- not be compromised under any circumstances, they called upon all the communities of the State to safeguard the integrity of Manipur and work collectively towards peaceful co-existence and uniform development.

Community and civil society leaders at the dias

Distinguished social wor-ker Th Iboyaima, AMUCO president Dr Y Mani Khuman and leaders of different communities led the people in offering floral tributes at the Integrity Pillar starting at around 8.30 am.

The commemorative function was held on the theme of 'unity, collective struggle and uniform development' .

The function was held with a clarion call to stand firm against all forms of communalism and ethno-centric agenda.

The Integrity Day was observed in commemoration of the historic, mammoth rally taken out at Imphal on August 4, 1997 on the theme of protecting Mani-pur's territorial integrity.

AMUCO advisor Th Ibo-yaima, AMUCO president Dr Y Mani Khuman, Chothe Tribe Union Manipur chairman Dh Gaikhemmei, EADHCO Phunal Maring president K Yaima Maring, AMMDO president Advocate Sahid Ahmad, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur president L Mem-choubi, Kuki Women Union Manipur president Rose Mangshi Haokip, Kabui Mothers Association Manipur vice-president Atongbi Kamei and AMUCO advisor KT Rehaman attended the function as presidium members.

Speaking at the gathering, AMUCO general secretary T Gandhi appealed against driving wedges in the age old fraternal bond shared between hill people and plain people.

Even as lakhs of people rallied for safeguarding the integrity of Manipur 16 years back, threats and challenges to the integrity of Manipur still exist.

Pointing out that Government of India and NSCN-IM are the two agencies which have been consistently posing challenges to the integrity of Manipur, Gandhi asserted that it is not the Naga people which is threatening the integrity of Manipur.

"In fact, it is a handful of Manipuri Nagas who have been challenging the integrity of Manipur in pursuit of some selfish political agenda of their own," Gandhi said.

There should be democratic space for all the indigenous communities of Manipur to preserve and promote their respective languages, religious practices, cultures, traditions etc, he added.

Th Iboyaima asserted that Manipuri people are ever ready to sacrifice even their lives in order to keep the territorial integrity of Manipur in tact.

All the challenges and threats to the integrity of Manipur would be responded in the most befitting manner.

Many other civil society leaders too spoke at the commemorative function.