AMSU observes Hunger Marchers Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2014: Forty-five years from today on August 27, 1965 students protesting against artificial famine created by the then government were brutally charged and some of them were even killed inside the compound of the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur.

Today, observing the same day in honour of those killed in the event, students from all over the State came forward to participate in the 49th Hunger Marchers Day.

Organised by the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), the 49th Hunger Marchers Day march began with the offering of floral tribute to the deceased students at their memorial tomb in Pishum Chinga and the hoisting of AMSU's flag.

The rally started from Pishum Chinga Macha and then, crossing Nambul river, Keishampat, Waheng Leikai and Nagamapal area, proceeded towards Khoyathong and later gathered at the newly constructed Multipurpose Hall, inside DM campus, for a public meeting.

Students taking out a mass rally on Hunger Marchers' Day

The protestors demanding implementation of ILPS placed slogans asserting that the State, and only the State, should be responsible for fixing market rates of products and that no outsider should be allowed impose their writes on such matters.

The hall echoed with the marchers' combined call Long Live Manipur.

Strong police forces were employed to ensure no untoward incident took place during the march.

Traffic police halted vehicular movement along the routes of the rally to ensure smooth marching while pedestrians and locals supported the march by offering drinking water to the marchers.

The public meeting at DM College multipurpose hall was presided by AMSU's former president Professor Irom Gambhir and Ng Brajakumar Singh, Principal, DM College of Commerce; Yumnam Nabachandra, UCM president; Sinam Prakash, Secretary General, NESO and AMSU former president and Tongbram ongbi Premita as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Giving an insight of the programme's agenda, AMSU secretary general, Laishram Regan while reminding about the unfortunate incident of August 27, 1965 urged students to take proactive roles in various issues confronting Manipur at present.

Addressing the event, Prof Irom Gambhir stressed on the pathetic condition the State is in.

He said, "While the world seem to be progressing forward, Manipur is still sinking lower in corruption" .

Blaming the public and young generations for the present condition, the Professor further blamed the present generation for turning deaf towards the current happenings in the State.

In such dilemma, scholars are bound to resist sharing their views freely.

The present Government and its mistakes are to be blamed for all the mess" .

All other states in India can be said to be well developed.

On the contrary, colleges of Manipur have been yearning for permanent Principals.

He said that shaping a good nation requires good educational institutions too.

Everything is in turmoil here in the State.

The ongoing stir about seat reservation in Manipur University is a perfect example proving this adversity, advocated the Professor.

Turning to the Chief Minister of the State, Prof Irom Gambhir further proclaimed in his concluding statement that the people of Manipur needed an ultimate resolution from the Government in response to the present issues in Manipur.

Increasing the number of organisation and 'lup' would never lead to a prosperous state.

The issues could be fought and tackled only unitedly, and make Manipur a happy and prosperous state.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur Student's Union (AMSU), Jiribam District Committee also observed the 49th Hunger Marchers Day today at Jiribam Higher Secondary School auditorium hall.

The students' union, in connection with the Hunger Marchers' day, took out a rally out holding palanquin with photographs of late Nilakamal, L Chaobal, Oinam Naba Kumar and N Promodini who died in the 1965 movement of Manipur.

S Maniton Singh, general secretary, Senior Citizen Society Jiribam; Y Sanjiv Singh, Jiribam District Committee, AMSU president and Kh Haridas Singh, AMSU founder secretary, Jiri branch, Ph Gyanendro Singh, former Jiribam district committee AMSU secretary presided over the event as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.