'Stop Jewel Queen Contest'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 09 2016 :
The Manipur Women Patriot's Foundation (MWPF) and contestants of the Jewel Queen Contest have urged Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to stop the contest alleging ill treatment by organizers to the State contestants.
The contest is scheduled to be held tomorrow at Lamboi-khongnangkhong, the venue of ongoing 1st Manipur Industrial Expo 2016 as a part of the expo.
Speaking to reporters at Keishamthong, one of the contestants said that altogether 11 contestants from Manipur had enrolled for the contest.
After their enrolment, Commissioner (Commerce and Industries) Vivek Kumar Dewangan asked them to report on April 3 at the State Academy of Training (SAT).
The next day, they were taken to Classic Grande and asked them to walk on the ramp there.
Later, they were again asked to take part on two different fashion shows held at the venue of the industrial expo, she said.
However, they later came to know that the so-called preliminary rounds held at Classic Grande and venue of the expo were conducted without any jury.
These rounds were held just to entertain the organisers and crowd, she said and added that the actual contest began from April 7, she alleged.
The contestants from other North East States started participating in the contest from this day only, she said.
She further alleged that during their performance at Classic Grande, the Commissioner had told the State contestants that selected contestants would be given a chance to take part in Femina Miss India contest.
It is unbecoming on the part of the Commissioner and the organisers to keep the State contestants in dark about their intention for asking them to walk on the ramp for three times before the start of the contest, she said.
As such their resources, time and energy have been wasted without any reason, the contestant lamented.
On behalf of all the eleven contestants of the State, she demanded the Chief Minister to ask the organisers to stop the contest until an amicable settlement is brought.
She also said that the State contestants must be adequately compensated for their loss.
She also urged all the State contestants and designers not to participate in the contest until the matter is resolved.
MWPF president N Nganbi said that they have met the Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam after they received a complaint on the issue from the contestants.
Surprisingly, the Minister has no knowledge about the contest, she said.
Saying that the organisers have collected Rs 3000 each from all the contestants, Nganbi said that it is shocking to learn that Commerce and Industries Department is earning easy money in the name of providing opportunity to the youth of the State.
She said that MWPF would not remain silent if State youth are misused with the wrong promise.
MWPF and State contestants have submitted separate memoranda to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi drawing his attention to the issue.
They also urged him to cancel the contest to be held tomorrow at Lamboikhongnangkhong until an understanding between the contestants and organisers is brought.
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