Imphal, September 22 2010: MPCC president, Gaikhangam today asserted that states neighbouring Manipur are supplying arms to its villagers at the borders, and suggested the government strengthen villagers on the state's side too by arming them or setting up police stations at the border areas.

"It is not the people shouting here, in Imphal shout for territorial integrity but tribal villages at the border who actually protect the territorial boundary of the state, MPCC president, Gaikhangam said addressing a gathering at Wangoi Bazar in a function to felicitate him on his re-election as president of state Congress.

These villages are the real protectors of the state's boundaries.

They cry for help when they were unable to protect the boundary, the president said citing instances when villagers of Jessami, Tungjoy villages confronted villagers on the other side of the state boundary who intruded with intentions to encroach Manipur's land.

In the neighbouring states, villagers in the border are being armed, Gaikhangam observed suggesting the state government to take up measures to reinforce "our villagers" either by arming them or setting up police stations at the border areas.

MLA Gaikhangam elaborated that tribal villages have physically fought with the intruders and encroachers in the border areas and said their confrontations were not just in the interest of their villages but for the people as a whole and for protecting the territorial boundary of the state.

People shouting here in Imphal Pologround have no idea of the ground situation.

They have never gone to these border villages and heard.

the grievances of the villagers.

Government too is unable to meet their needs.

"This is an unfortunate thing.

We must agreeto leave no stone unturned while extending help to these villagers," he said.

When there is emotional integrity, territorial integrity will automatically follow.

As a citizen of Manipur it is a must to do something good for the motherland, he said.

Manipur is a state where many communities have been residing together since time immemorial and by nature's gift the valley of the state is surrounded by hills.

Traditionally, the valley people have been protected by the hill people.

This shows that there is an inseparable relation between the hill and valley people.

This relation can never be served Gaikhangam said.

The MPCC chief highlited the instances at Jessami, Tungjoy villages where villagers have always confronted land grabbing villagers on the other side of the state boundary.

Acceding that, few sections of the hill people are dreaming of disintegrating the territorial boundary of the state, Gaikhangam said that the dream will never materialise as the majority of hill people are against it.

He disclosed he has been is receiving threats for talking about safeguarding the territorial integrity of the state, Gaikhangam said that time has arrived to take up developmental and welfare works so as to bring a balanced development in both the hills and the valley.

With this view in mind, Congress in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister, O Ibobi and he himself are giving full attention in bringing peace and development in the state, he added.

He also thanked the people of Wangoi area for according him a warm felicitation on his re-election to the post of MPCC president.

The felicitation given to Gaikhangam was attended by MLA, K Govindas, Sagolsem Achouba, a congress candidate in the last Assembly election in Wangoi A/C, MPCC secretary P Sashikanta, S Jiten among others.

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