Fight external forces call rings loud on Jadonang anniversary
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 29 2019: Saying that external forces or non-local people have been often found sitting on the judgement throne on internal matters of the State, UCM president Sunil Karam has appealed to all the communities of the State to live together in peace and harmony without giving any room for interference by external forces.

He was speaking at the 88th death anniversary function of Haipou Jadonang held today near Haipou Jadonang Park, Keishampat.

The death anniversary function was organised by the Haipou Jadonang Park Development and Death Anniversary Committee (HJPD&DAC) under the auspices of the Zeliangrong Union (AMN) .

Fight external forces call rings loud on Jadonang anniversary

Categorically asserting that no community should demand an exclusive domain or territory of their own, Sunil Karam pointed out that neither Meiteis nor Kukis nor Nagas can live separately and exclusively.

Referring to reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to settle the Naga peace talk within three months, Sunil said that the same reports are a serious warning to Manipur.

There can be no development when there is no State.

As such, political leaders of the State must first focus on saving the State before talking about development, he said.

He contended that there is no such thing as half-hearted patriotism.

Political leaders may either be fully patriotic or they may abandon all sense of patriotism.

Holding commemorative functions in honour of patriots and martyrs such as Bir Tikendrajit, Thangal General, Chirai Naga or Haipou Jadonang on communal lines would only undermine the works and sacrifices of the great leaders, said the UCM president.

He then appealed for holding such commemorative functions collectively with participation of all the communities of the State.

Recalling about the observation of one Patriots' Day on August 13 at Lamyanba Shanglen where the portrait of a lady with the map of India in the background was placed between the portraits of Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General, Sunil Karam said that observation of such National functions needs screening otherwise irrelevant pictures may be placed beside Haipou Jadonang too.

Speaking as chief guest at the function, Power Minister Th Biswajit stated that the fundamental essence of observing the death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang is celebration of the freedom fighter's spirit of nationalism and his struggle to promote indigenous beliefs, faith and values.

Talking about a memorandum submitted to the State Government through him by HJPD&DAC, Biswajit assured that a hall would be constructed at Haipou Jadonang Park out of his own money, even if the Government does not come forward.

Nonetheless, he sought assistance from the Government as well as private individuals towards construction of the hall.

He said that he would raise the proposal of observing Haipou Jadonang death anniversary as a State level function by declaring August 29 as a State holiday with the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues.

He also assured to take the proposal of naming the road stretch from Keishampat to Raj Bhavan traffic island as Haipou Jadonang Road to the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.

He further expressed keen desire to develop a memorial park where statues of all freedom fighters, patriots and public leaders are installed together.

In his presidential speech, ZU (AMN) president Amu Kamei said that Manipur would never break apart and all the communities living together within its boundary since ages would continue to live together.

He lamented that a memorandum similar to the one submitted today to the State Government through Power Minister Th Biswajit was submitted in the past but none of the demands listed in the memorandum have been translated into action till date.

AMUCO president Ph Deban underscored the need to include lives and works of the heroes and patriots in the State's school syllabus.

With the Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis and Meitei Pangals focusing more on the exclusive interests of their own community, there is a growing gap among the communities and they are unable to see the conspiracy being hatched by external forces to annihilate all the indigenous communities, Deban said.

Social activist Dhanabir Laishram gave a brief account of the life and works of Haipou Jadonang.

Manipur Pollution Control Board Chairman L Radhakishore, MLA P Saratchandra, MLA Y Radheshyam and Arun Enterprises Imphal proprietor Th Arun too attended the function as guests of honour.

Earlier, people paid floral tributes to the statue of Haipou Jadonang apart from observing silence for two minutes in honour of the freedom fighter.