CM assures restricted holiday: Joykisan State pays rich tributes to Haipou Jadonang
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 29 2022: The State today paid homage and rich tributes to freedom fighter Haipou Jadonang on his death anniversary.

A State-level function on the 91st death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang was held today at the Jadonang Park, Keishampat under the aegis of the State Level haipou Jadonang Death Anniversary Committee.

People who attended the death anniversary function paid floral tributes to Haipou Jadonang and observed two-minute silence in honour of the freedom fighter.

Speaking at the gathering, MLA Khumukcham Joy-kisan said that Chief Minis- ter N Biren gave assurance to declare the death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang as a restricted holiday after the same matter is tabled at a Cabinet meeting.

It is essential for the present generation to have the courage and spirit of those leaders who fought valiantly against external forces to protect Manipur and safeguard the interest of indigenous communities, Joykisan said.

CM assures restricted holiday: Joykisan State pays rich tributes to Haipou Jadonang

He said that all the people ought to join hands and collectively fight a war on drugs in view of the ever worsening drug menace in the State.

"Instead of simply taking out protest rallies, we must focus on rooting out the drug menace from the soil of Manipur", he said.

"We cannot remain blind or indifferent to the issue of drug abuse and smuggling of drugs as the issue has already affected the whole society.

Many people had fallen prey to drug abuse.

Each and every one of us must be a committed warrior to fight the drug menace", Joykisan said.

He also highlighted the threat posed to the indigenous people by incessant influx of non-local people into the State whose origins are 'unverifiable' .

Saying that Manipur, despite being very small in terms of geographical area, has been witnessing an unprecedented population explosion, Joykisan asserted that Manipur, protected for centuries by 'our forefathers with their blood and sweat', would be lost forever if the population explosion is not checked urgently.

The MLA recalled that he raised a motion in the last State Assembly session to set up Manipur Population Commission and enforce National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the State.

Joykisan said that he would raise the proposal of naming a road after Haipou Jadonang to the Chief Minister shortly.

Opining that the death anniversary function would lose its significance if it is observed in the same manner and fashion every year, the MLA suggested the organising committee to set a theme or objective for every year so as to make the death anniversary observation more meaningful.

MLA RK Imo announced that the Jadonang Park would be renovated soon apart from constructing a toilet complex inside the park.

He also assured all possible assistance from his side if there is a possibility of constructing a community hall at a suitable site in the name of Haipou Jadonang.

Saying that the death anniversary would be observed every year, RK Imo highlighted the need for constructing a large hall at a suitable place.

He also highlighted the need to incorporate the stories of those patriots and martyrs who laid down their lives for the cause of Manipur and her people in the education curriculum.

"There cannot be any future generation if we do not know our history", Imo said.

Manipuri students know about the Mughal empire as well as the Delhi sultanate but they have very little knowledge about the heroes and patriots of the land, he remarked.

Zeliangrong Union (AMN) president Azang Rongmei, AMUCO president Nando Luwang, UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam, IPSA president Tourangbam Birjit, UPF president N Rupachandra and NIPCO president Prem Oinam attended the function as presidium members.

Dr Dhanabir Laishram presented a brief history of Haipou Jadonang.

Representatives and leaders of different organisations and CSOs too attended the death anniversary function.