Manipur joins Nation in celebrating 77th Independence Day
Chief Minister hums forgive and forget tune
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 16 2023: As celebrated across the country, Manipur celebrated 77th Independence Day with pomp and gaiety.

The State level celebration was held with Chief Minister N Biren Singh hoisting the National tricolour amid playing of National Anthem at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, yesterday The Chief Minister reviewed the parade and took salute from 16 march-past contingents commanded by Additional Director, Manipur Police Training College Sarangthem Asana.

Manipur joins Nation in celebrating 77th Independence Day

The participating contingents were Border Security Force, CRPF (Female), Combined Manipur Rifles, Combined India Reserve Battalion, Combined Civil Police (Male), 9th India Reserve (Mahila), Combined Civil Police (Female), Home Guard (Male), Combined VDF, Manipur Fire Service, Traffic Police, DM College of Science, Manipur College, Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School, TG Higher Secondary School and SSA Imphal West.

The Combined Band Platoons consisted of CRPF Band, 1st and 2nd Manipur Rifles, 1st and 2nd India Reserve Battalion and Home Guard (Male & Female) .

On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the unrest in Manipur was instigated by some people with vested interests and outside elements who want to destabilize the State and the country.

He appealed to people of both the warring communities to refrain from violence, forgive and forget whatever had happened earlier, share their grievances and come to an understanding which will be for the betterment of all.

The Chief Minister continued that the Government has taken up certain steps to resettle the displaced folks.

For those places where resettlement is not possible now, temporary pre-fabricated houses are being constructed to relocate the displaced people, he said and added that the Government has also constituted committees to provide a source of livelihood under 'One Family One Livelihood' to those who have no source of income.

N Biren Singh further stated that the Government has been taking up all efforts to rehabilitate the affected people.

Informing that security forces had been deployed at different places to guard the farmers, N Biren claimed that the State is gradually returning to normalcy.

Stating that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is constantly monitoring the situation round the clock, the Chief Minister said that supply of essential items in hill areas is being carried out under the initiatives of the Union Home Minister.

He then recalled that the first goods trains had reached Khongsang Railways Station recently.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister stated that the BJP led Government, since its formation in 2017, had been taking up various steps for the welfare of its people.

The State had remained free from bandh and blockade in the last six years, he claimed and maintained that additional security forces and various police outposts had been set up at border areas and highways to stop illegal activities.

Mentioning that the State Government had been giving focus on bridging the developmental gap between hill and valley areas, N Biren added that more funds had been allocated in the budget for the said purpose.

Administrative Prabharis have been appointed to take governance to the grass root level and as such, the State has been marching towards the development path, the Chief Minister said.

Regarding the 'War on Drugs' campaign, the Chief Minister stated that the campaign was not taken up as a measure against any community, rather it was taken up to save the lives of future generations.

He mentioned the effect of drugs on the youth of the State and environmental degradation due to mass deforestation for poppy cultivation, adding that the Government couldn't remain as a mere spectator.

Seeking peoples' support to the War on Drugs campaign, he reiterated that the Government's stance to totally root out drug menace from the State is in line with Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan initiated by the Central Government.

He appealed to the people to stop large scale deforestation and plant more trees to preserve forest areas.

The Chief Minister also appealed to people to preserve water bodies.

The Chief Minister maintained the State Government would not take up any step which is against its people.

As the Government has been formed under the provision of the Indian Constitution, it would not do anything which is beyond the ambit of the Constitution, he added.

Informing that coaching classes for UPSC Civil Services Examination had been started under the initiative of the Government, he expressed happiness that more than 40 aspirants from Manipur have cleared UPSC preliminary examination this year.

The hosting of various National and international events like Tri-Nation Football Tournament, G20 events, Durand Cup, Femina Miss India among others successfully had shown that the State had remained peaceful for the last six years.

However, misunderstanding between two communities had caused loss of lives, displacement and destruction of properties recently, he added.

Concluding his speech, the Chief Minister appreciated the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'under whose guidance the North East States witnessed considerable development in various sectors' .

During the celebration, the Chief Minister handed over Chief Minister's Trophy for Community Service to Additional Superintendent of Police (L & O), Chandel Shankerjit Singh Loitongbam and Assistant Sub-Inspector Imphal West Athokpam Tej Singh.

Chief Minister's Trophy for Anti-Drug Campaign was handed over to Superintendent of Police, Kakching Thokchom Vikramjit Singh, Officer in Charge/CDO Unit of Thoubal Konsam Nitaranjan Singh and Havildar Irengbam Dorendro Meetei of 2nd MR.Apart from this the Chief Minister also handed over the Award for Outstanding Achievement in disposing cases relating to NDPS Act to the Directorate of Forensic Sciences, Manipur.

Showcase of performances by four cultural troupes were also a part of the celebration.

Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Satyabrata, Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, Director General of Police and senior civil and police officials also attended the 77th Independence Day celebration among others.