Biren stresses on importance of unity among indigenes
'Fight is against infiltrators'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 13 2024: Chief Minister N Biren has categorically stated that he may be hung to death if his actions to save the indigenous people from the jaws of drugs turn out wrong.

N Biren was speaking at the opening ceremony of Manipur Indigenous Peoples Cultural Exchange Festival 2024 organised by the Indigenous Peoples Forum Manipur (IPFM) under the aegis of Tourism Department at Chadong village, Kamjong district.

Hailing the cultural exchange festival as a good step, Chief Minister N Biren said it would prove to be a cementing force in fostering closer ties and unity among the indigenous people of Manipur.

Indigenous Manipuri ancestors protected the boundary of Manipur with just swords and spears, Biren said and added that he has been working to revive and revitalise the age-old relationship shared among the indigenous communities since he became the Chief Minister in 2017.Sacred ancestral worshipping sites were searched and developed.

For development of the sacred site located at Makhel in Senapati district which is believed to be the common cradle of all indigenous people, an amount of Rs six crore was sanctioned.

The sacred site has been developed as an indigenous ethnic cultural centre and the same has been inaugurated, he said.

The Chief Minister said that it will be hard to understand the common history of the indigenous people of the hills and the valley without proper research.

The State Government has a special interest in the cultural exchange festival being organised by the IPFM because such festivals are the need of the hour.

It is imperative to understand that external forces have been giving severe blows to all the indigenous people but there are people who do not know this fact, Biren said.

There is demographic imbalance in Manipur and the indigenous population is being reduced to a minority.

Just like China's Opium War, Manipur is being invaded by drugs.

But it appears more people are inclined to disparage the State Government, the leaders and the Chief Minister, he said.

The incumbent Government has been working to save the indigenous people who are on the verge of being annihilated, he asserted.

Turning to participants of TV discussion programmes and other critics, N Biren asked them to first study official statistics, records, population figures and the electoral rolls.

"First see the demographic changes in google map.

If my actions turn out wrong, I may be hanged to death", the Chief Minister stated.

He then appealed to all the people to support the State Government's initiatives to protect the indigenous peoples.

Compare the present today's data with the data of some years back on the emergence of new villages, destruction of forest areas and sharp increase in the number of people enrolled in the voters' list.

It is essential to study why and how the population of a particular community grew so fast as compared to the population of other communities, he continued.

Biren stated that his Government has been working hard to protect the present as well as future generations.

Nobody wants to leave his/her ancestral village but the ancestral village of Chadong was submerged under water when the dam for Thoubal Multipurpose Project was constructed.

Nonetheless, the Government gave adequate compensation and thus the present Chadong village was developed, he said.

As Chadong has now become a popular tourist centre, the villages can earn substantial income from tourism as well as from fishery, Biren said.

He then called upon all the 34-35 communities of Manipur to live together peacefully and protect the integrity of Manipur collectively.

"Manipur is the mother for each and every one of us and we should be proud of being a Manipuri", the Chief Minister asserted.

He also vowed that the War on Drugs will continue, all poppy plantations will be destroyed and people's lives and properties will be protected.

IPFM president Ashang Kasar said that the cultural exchange festival was being organised with the main objective of bringing about peaceful co-existence among all the indigenous communities of Manipur.

There is violence and conflict in Manipur but the conflict is with non-indigenous people, not among indigenous communities, Ashang Kasar said.

Saying that there is no conflict among the indigenous communities, he appealed to all the indigenous communities to forge a strong bond of unity.

He also mooted the idea of developing Chadong as a township of indigenous communities.

As long as there is unity among the indigenous communities, no force can destroy the integrity of Manipur, he added.

Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Transport Minister Khashim Vashum and PHE Minister L Susindro were also present at the opening ceremony.

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