Imphal, December 16 2009: Vijay Divas Day was observed today with rich tributes being paid to the soldiers including three jawans from Manipur who laid down their lives in safeguarding the territory of the country.

Describing the role of Manipur in safeguarding the territory of the country, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the state had also participated in the Indo-Pak war, 1971 where three soldiers from the state had sacrificed their lives in protecting the territory of the country.

Several retired army men of the 1971 troops can still be seen today, added O Ibobi.

In a clarification to the allegations made by the opposition parties in Manipur regarding the statement made on the World Disabled Day as violating the election code of conduct, chief minister O Ibobi stated that it was a wrong allegation against him.

The Chief Minister said that whatever he had stated on the particular occasion has already been notified by the government earlier.

It is worth noting that during the observation of World Disabled Day on December 3 organised jointly by School Education Department and Spastic Society, Manipur at Ghari in Imphal, the Chief Minister was had reportedly assured the people that a special school and employment exchange would be set up for the disabled people.

The Chief Minister had also assured on that day that 3 per cent reservation of seats be given to the disabled persons at the time of government job recruitments and admission in educational institutions.

Reacting to this, the opposition parties while stating that such assurances could influence the voters of the by-election of Yaiskul constituency scheduled for December 19, had lodged complaint to the Election Commission of India against the remarks made by the Chief Minister.

Dr Borobabu, ex-president of BJP Manipur and L Ashok Kumar, general secretary, Manipur People's Party (MPP) lodged complaints to Election Commission of India against the remarks made by the Chief Minister on the World Disabled Day as violating election code of conduct.

Speaking on the occasion, one of the retired Army officers of the Indo-Pak war 1971 stated that the war was not between men to men or Army to Army but it was a political war.

A total of about 11,464 soldiers including three from the state of Manipur had lost their lives in the Indo-Pak war, 1971 and 238 soldiers went missing , said the retired Army officer.

The function was graced by Chief Minister O Ibobi and Health & Family Welfare Minister Ph Parijat as chief guest and president respectively.

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