CM flags off media team for tour to Andaman
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 16 2024:
Chief Minister N Biren flagged off a media team heading to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in Indian Ocean for a tour which is being organised by All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) under the aegis of Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) from the gate of the CM's bungalow, here, on Saturday.
The 30-member media team consists of 18 women journalists and 12 office bearers of AMWJU.
The tour will conclude on March 24 .
Prior to flagging off the team, Biren said that this is the first media team from the state to visit the island UT after Mt Harriet was renamed as Mt Manipur.
He highlighted how Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah acknowledged the freedom struggle of the patriots of Manipur and renamed Mt Harriet as Mt Manipur in honour of the Manipuri martyrs, who spent sentence in the cellular jail of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
He wished the media team safe journey.
On the sidelines of the event, the CM, while responding to queries from mediapersons, said that his party, BJP will soon declare the candidates for both Inner and Outer parliamentary constituencies of the state.
A security review meeting was held on Friday to prevent unwanted disturbances during the election and necessary instructions have been issued to senior officials, he said.
MLAs Sapam Kunjakeshwar, Th Shyamkumar, K Robindro, IPR commissioner M Joy and director Dr Th Charanjeet were also present at the flagging off ceremony.
Mention may be made that post Anglo-Manipur War in 1891, numerous Manipuri warriors faced exile to the British penal colony situated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Among those exiled warriors was King Kulachandra Dhwaja Singh.
As plans for construction of the Cellular Jail (Kalapani) were underway then, Kulachandra Singh and his fellow prisoners found themselves detained on Mount Manipur, located in the South Andaman district.
According to historical records housed within the "Manipur State Archives," a total of 23 men, including King Kulachandra and his siblings, were sentenced to transportation for life to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Similarly, sit-in protests condemning the arrest of three members of the Pambei-led UNLF by NIA and demanding their immediate unconditional release were staged by meira paibi activists at different parts of Kakching district on Saturday.
A sit-in protest and human chain formation was jointly organised by meira paibi groups of Langmeidong Maning Awang, Mayai, Bazar Awang and Young Learner's Association (YLA) Langmeidong, Youth Development Club (YDC), Langmeidong and Seven Star Club (SSC), Langmeidong at Langmeidong Awang Pukhri Achouba.
On the other hand, sit-in protests were staged by meira paibi activists under the aegis of Universal Mothers' Organisation (UMO) at Laphupat Tera, Arong Khunou, Arong Khunou Dhabllo Khong, Arong Khunjao, Nongmaikhong and Sarik Konjil.
During these protests, the agitators chanted slogans such as "We denounce arrest of the Pambei-led UNLF cadres", "Release the arrested trio immediately", "NIA should cease arresting of village volunteers," etc.
Speaking to media persons, one of the protestors at Arong Khunou stated that the statement of CM N Biren that he was not aware of the arrest of three members of the Pambei-led UNLF by NIA was very shameful.
Alleging that their arrest suggests a hidden agenda of the central and state governments, she decried that the CM has been misleading the public for a long time now and the mothers are now at the limit of their patience.
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