CM opens 2-day Hun Thadou Fest
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal/Kangpokpi, April 18 2023: Chief Minister N Biren Singh today opened the 5th State level HUN Thadou Cultural Festival, 2023 at Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi.

He also released a souvenir in connection with the two-day festival celebrated under the theme 'Drug-free society' .

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister claimed that the present Government is people centric and it works under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantras of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas' and 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' .

He urged the people not to be misled by some vested people who term the BJP Government as a communal Government.

"During the last six years, the Government has called for preservation of our identities and creation of a drug free society", he said, further highlighting that it is the present Government which has built traditional huts of all 35 communities at the Sangai Ethnic Park in Moirang Khunou.

CM opens 2-day Hun Thadou Fest

This initiative symbolises recognition and Government's respect of all the different communities residing together in the State, the Chief Minister added.

Manipur is made up of various communities residing together and this is the beauty of Manipur, he said.

Further highlighting that there are more than one lakh drug users in the State, Biren said that he would continue to fight for total eradication of illegal drugs and stop poppy cultivation in the State.

He said that his call, as the Chief Minister of the State, is to stop illegal drug business, poppy cultivation and deforestation.

He further stressed on steps being taken up in the State by the Government and highlighted schemes like CMHT and PMJAY.

During the last Cabinet meeting, the Government decided to launch the 'Manipur One Family, One Livelihood Scheme' under which anyone from a family with no source of income can apply for a loan of Rs 10 lakh with 30 per cent grant.

An amount of Rs 100 crore had been allocated in the budget for the same, he added.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the need to screen illegal immigrants from entering the State so that they don't usurp the shares of the indigenous communities.

He added that a Cabinet sub-committee has been formed with Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip as the chairman along with Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai and Education Minister Th Basanta Singh to identify illegal immigrants who had fled from strife-torn Myanmar and to set up temporary shelter homes for them so that they can go back to their country again.

The Chief Minister further said that Thadou is one of the biggest communities and has lived in Manipur since ancient times.

Biren Singh also appreciated the All Manipur Christian Organisation for their declaration to fight against the drug menace and poppy cultivation in the State.

Further appealing to the people of Kangpokpi to take a pledge against illegal drugs and poppy cultivation, the Chief Minister said soon the people will get to see some positive changes in the fight to eradicate drugs.

The Chief Minister also appealed to all communities of the State to live together unitedly and urged all to save and preserve the forest cover, screen illegal immigrants and stop poppy cultivation.

He also lauded the organizers of the festival for celebrating the festival under the theme "Drug-free society" .

In her presidential speech, Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen said the Hun Festival is one of the biggest festivals of the Thadou community.

During the festival celebrated at the start of a year, the community offers prayers for a fruitful year ahead, she added.

An important feature of this festival is that the young children pray to their grandparents seeking their blessings, she said.

Highlighting that the theme of the festival is "Drug-free Society", Nemcha Kipgen asserted that it is important to start from the children if the campaign to make the society drug free must achieve complete success.

She further wished that the festival shall take an important role in making the State a drug free society and bring more peace and unity among the communities of the State.

On their arrival, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries were accorded a warm traditional welcome by the people of Kangpokpi.

Traditional songs and dances marked the opening session of the festival.

The opening session was also attended by Works Minister Konthoujam Govindas, TA&H Minister Letpao Haokip, MLA Irengbam Nalini, MLA P Janghemlung Panmei, MLA Kimneo Haokip Hansing, DGP P Doungel, village chiefs and youth leaders, among others.

Interestingly, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu will attend the festival as a showstopper with international designer Robert Naorem tomorrow.

Mister and Miss Thadou beauty contests, Thadou folk songs, folk dance, and folk music, Thadou modern songs, tastes of Thadou cuisines, Thadou Handloom and Handicrafts, Thadou indigenous games and sports, and Thadou traditional attires will be the main highlights of the two-day event.

Significantly, the State Government on January 27, 2023, declared April 7 as a restricted holiday on the occasion of Hun, the Thadou Cultural Festival.

Responding to a query over the resignation of two BJP MLAs from their respective assigned posts and a few BJP MLAs camping at Delhi, Chief Minister N Biren said that there is no need to talk, they wanted to work only in their respective Assembly Constituencies.

Then he avoided the media for further comments.