AMSU recalls Anti-Foreigners' Movement
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 17 2020: In commemoration of the Anti-Foreigners' Movement of 1980 in which two students were martyred in police firing during an uprising on April 17, 1980, the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) observed the 40th Realization Day (Meekap Thokpa Numit) .

Unlike in the past, the observation was organized in a very low-key manner where only a few volunteers of AMSU unfurled flag and paid floral tributes at the memorial site of the martyred students at Pishum Chingamacha.

AMSU recalls Anti-Foreigners' Movement

Speaking on the sideline of the function, AMSU president Peter Salam recalled the Anti-foreigners Movement and said that two students namely; Huidrom Lokendro and Potshangbam Premananda lost their lives in police firing during the uprising on April 17, 1980 against the influx of migrants into the State.

He said that the then volunteers and leaders of AMSU who took part in the Anti-Foreigners' Movement were farsighted and they knew that the incessant influx of migrants into the State will someday lead to domination of the indigenous people by outsiders.

The main objective of observing the event was to generate awareness about the responsibility taken by the then student leaders who took part in the Anti-Foreigners' Movement among the indigenous people and the grave threats posed to them (indigenous people) by the fast rising population of immigrants in the State.

Maintaining that the aspirations of the then student leaders and public who revolted against the uncontrolled influx of migrants into the State have not been fulfilled till now, the AMSU president pointed out that the demand of the then student leaders was to send back the immigrants who had already entered the State.

All the indigenes need to understand the real aspirations of the then students who took part in the Anti-Foreigners' Movement and struggle collectively to achieve the objective of the Anti-Foreigners' Movement.

Saying that the State Government, transporters and vehicle owners should take the responsibility for hiding non-locals inside vehicles and bringing them into the State without ILP, Peter also said that the State Government should come out with an appropriate policy to effectively check the influx of immigrants into the State.

While lauding the State Government's initiative of introducing online classes and youtube videos to mitigate the adverse impact of lockdown and closure of schools, the AMSU president appealed the Government to telecast videos of the online classes in local TV channels so that those students in hill areas where internet facilities are unavailable or unreliable can view the classes.

He also asked the State Government and bookstores to introduce home delivery service for books and study materials.