Amit Shah rejoices over stable law & order in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal/New Delhi, November 22 2021: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday lauded the BJP government in Manipur for bringing peace and all-round development in the last five years, and said there has been a significant improvement in the law and order situation in the state.

While virtually laying the foundation stone of the Rani Gaidinliu tribal freedom fighters' museum at Luangkao village in Tamenglong district, Shah said the government at the Centre and the N Biren government in Manipur have brought tremendous improvement in the law and order situation, education, power and other infrastructure sectors.

"Before coming to power in Manipur, we had promised to end bandh, hartal and blockade.

We have ended all the three and significantly improved the law and order situation in Manipur," he said.

The home minister said if a comparison is made between the development witnessed in the last five years in Manipur and the development in previous 70 years in the state, one can see more progress in the last five years.

The BJP came to power in Manipur for the first time in 2017.Shah said for the first time since Independence, those living in the hill areas of Manipur have felt that there is a central government which thinks about their welfare.

The people living in hills got power and gas connections free toilets and saw setting up of schools, he said.

"The governments of Narendra Modi and Biren Singh brought all these developments.

I am sure the people of Manipur will again elect a BJP government in Manipur," he said.

Assembly elections in Manipur are due early next year along with that in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa.

Shah also paid rich tributes to Gaidinliu, and said people called her as 'Rani' acknowledging her role in the struggle against the British.

The Union Home Minister said that the setting up of the museum will not only help relay the spirit of the freedom fighters of the country to future generations but also instill a sense of patriotism in them.

The museum will inspire the youth of the country in dedicating their service for the nation apart from realizing the spirit of the freedom struggle.

It has been 75 years since the country got freedom from the British and the country has a strong commitment to become a superpower of the globe while celebrating its 100th year of independence 25 years later, he said.

"While remembering the freedom fighters of the nation, we should not forget the struggle of the tribal freedom fighters who fought against colonial rule," he said.

Stressing the need for remembering the tribal freedom fighters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a weeklong celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15 as a part of celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

November 15 will be observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas every year as a mark of homage to the tribal freedom fighters of the country, Shah said.

Mentioning, freedom fighters of Manipur and others from northeast region, the Union minister also reminded the gathering of the Central government's decision to rename Mount Harriet, the third-highest island peak in Andaman and Nicobar islands, where Manipur's Maharaja Kulachandra Singh and 22 other freedom fighters were imprisoned after the Anglo-Manipuri war (1891).The Central government took the decision in honour of the courage and spirit of the freedom fighters of Manipur who always fought the British tooth and nail in battle, he said.

The home minister said on her birth centenary function in 2015, the prime minister had released a coin of Rs 100.The Indian Coast Guard commissioned a fast patrol vessel TCGS Rani Gaidinliu in 2016, he said.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda were among other dignitaries who attended the event at City Convention Centre in Imphal.

In his speech on the occasion, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda said that while talking about the freedom struggle of the country, one cannot forget the tribal freedom fighters.

The Union minister who is in Imphal, expressed his hope that the construction of the tribal museum will be completed within the targeted period with the cooperation of the people of the state.

Munda also assured his ministry's full support and cooperation in holistic development of Manipur and other states in the region which the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving special focus.

In his address, CM N Biren hoped that the museum will honour and commemorate the unsung tribal freedom fighters of Manipur.

It will also ensure their legacy of their freedom struggle and sacrifice for the motherland, he added.

The chief minister appreciated Union home minister Amit Shah for renaming Mt Harriet in Andaman as Mt Manipur in tribute to freedom fighters of the state.

Biren added that the importance of Manipur in Indian freedom struggle history cannot be ignored.

The first tricolour flag of India was first flown on the soil of Manipur when the INA hoisted the flag at Moirang in present day Bishnupur district.

The museum project has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore.

Rani Gaidinliu was born on January 26,1915.At the age of 13, she was associated with Haipou Jadonang, a spiritual leader and political activist from Manipur, and became his lieutenant in his social, religious and political movement.

Her four-year association with Jadonang that started around 1926 prepared her to be the fighter against the British.

After the execution of Jadonang by the British in 1931, Gaidinliu took up the leadership of the movement.

Gaidinliu started a revolt against the British after the martyrdom of Jadonang for which she was imprisoned by the Britishers for 14 years and finally released in 1947 .

She was released from Tura jail (Meghalaya) after India got Independence.

Rani Gaidinliu passed away on February 17, 1993.She was awarded the Tamrapatra in 1972, Padma Bhu-shan in 1982, Vivekananda Sewa Samman in 1983, Stree Shakti Purashkar in 1991 and Bhagwan Birsa Munda Puraskar in 1996 posthumously.

The government of India issued a commemorative stamp on Rani Gaidinliu in 1996 .

Works minister Th Biswajit, PHE minister Losii Dikho, Forest and Environment minister Awangbow Newmai, Education minister Sorokhaibam Rajen, TA & Hills minister Vungzagin Valte, Agriculture minister Oinam Lukhoi, CAF & PD minister Thokchom Satyabrata, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, MLAs, chief secretary, administrative secretaries and top government officials also attended the programme among others.

(with inputs from Agencies) .

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