Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, December 26 2008:
Congress MLA Qutub Ahmed Mazumdar of Assam has advocated preservation of historical sites and monuments such as Kangla, Govindajee temple, Nupi Lan complex, Moirang INA complex etc so that Manipuris can show their long history to the outside world.
Qutub Ahmed Mazumdar is a Manipuri Muslim settled at Cachar.
Elected from Sonai Assembly Constituency of Cachar district, he is an MLA in the Tarun Gogoi Government.
He is also probably the lone MLA in Assam Assembly who speaks in Manipuri.
Speaking to media persons at Hotel Nirmala here today, Mazumdar said that he visited Loktak lake, Moirang complex and Kangla after his arrival at Imphal yesterday.
Taking pride in his root of being a Manipuri Muslim, Mazumdar called upon the people to preserve and promote Manipuri history, culture and tradition.
However, the MLA was disturbed at seeing the Loktak lake which has changed drastically since he visited last 20 years back.
Saying that he heard about the killing of a Meira Paibi leader and the recent bomb attack at Raj Bhavan, Mazumdar confided these incidents could not deter him and his family from visiting Manipur.
He observed that the high rate of violence has been deterring tourists from visiting the otherwise scenic Manipur.
This is a big loss in generating State revenue, he added.
He claimed that the Tarun Gogoi Government never turned away from all reasonable and common demands of Meiteis and Manipuri Muslims settling in Assam.
Within his Assembly segment of Sonai, funds have been utilised in repairing auditoriums, mandaps etc of Meiteis.
Conveying gratitude to the people of Manipur for their hospitality, the MLA disclosed his desire to visit Manipur again.
He would be leaving Imphal tomorrow.