Despite boycott call, Govt keeps date with Sangai Fest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 24 2019: The 10th edition of Manipur Sangai Festival was inaugurated today by Chief Minister N Biren Singh albeit with low public participation.

The opening ceremony of the festival, which was held at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Palace Compound, was graced by the Chief Minister and Tourism Corporation Manipur Limited (TCML) Chairman Dr Sapam Ranjan as the chief guest and president respectively.

Ambassador of Republic of Indonesia HE Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, High Commissioner of Malaysia HE Dato' Hidayat Abdul Hamid, Cambodia Ambassador HE Mr Ung Sean, Ambassador of Myanmar HE Mr Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Thailand Chutintorn Gongskadi, Ambassador of Laos HE Bounneme Chouanghom, High Commissioner of Brunei HE Dato Paduka Hj Sidek Ali and Singapore High Commissioner HE Lim Thuan Kuan also attended the function as guests of honour.

Despite boycott call, Govt keeps date with Sangai Fest

Speaking at the function, the Chief Minister sought public cooperation in making the 7 day festival a success and conveyed that any kind of public grievances can be sorted out by sitting together and talking with the Government.

Further stating that development will be possible only when peace prevails in the State, Biren went on to encourage all those concerned to reap the benefits of foreign delegates coming to the State for the Sangai Festival.

While underscoring the need for showing warm hospitality to the foreign delegates to improve the State's tourism sector, the Chief Minister said that tourists will be reluctant to visit the State if the public do not respond in a good manner or show proper hospitality.

"Manipur people show warm hospitality and have become better day by day.

Foreigners see the changing dynamics of the State.

There has been tremendous increase in the number of International tourists visiting the State unlike the past.

But once this good will loses its shape, it will be hard to regain", he added.

Reminding that India-Myanmar chartered flight started very recently, he conveyed that the State Government has been deliberating on starting Manipur-Bangkok air connectivity with the Thai Embassy.

He also asserted that Rs 600 crore have already been sanctioned by the Central Government for the expansion and improvement of Bir Tikendrajit International Airport with the aim of bringing more International flight services.

Biren also asserted that efforts are on to improve and extend land route connectivity with other Asian countries.

Informing that there is a plan of the Centre to develop circuit tourism spots in the whole of North East region, he claimed that the State Government has already identified Tamei and Tengnoupal as two spots under the said plan.

There was low public turn up on the opening day of the festival today and most of the stalls inside Hapta Kangjeibung were found empty.