Politics should be tool to unify people: CM Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 09 2022:
No one should accept when politics is used to create division among people but it should be utilised as a tool towards unifying the people, stated chief minister N Biren Singh.
The chief minister was speaking during the observance of 188th death anniversary of Maharaj Gambhir Singh at Maharaj Gambhir Singh Samadhi complex, Canchipur on Sunday.
Addressing the gathering, Biren said that there is no place for violence in democracy and suitable action will be initiated against anyone who uses violence irrespective of whether the person belongs to the ruling party or other parties.
All the workers of ruling party have been instructed not to indulge in any form of violence, he said, while maintaining that voting is secret and it is right of every voter to cast vote to candidate of their choice.
According to the CM, Manipur has suffered a lot for a long time and the last 60/70 years too had passed without having peace and tranquillity.
Hpwever, a peaceful atmosphere prevails in Manipur since the past nearly five years with the help of the people and this atmosphere needs to be sustained, he said.
Referring to the PIL being filed by some people at the Supreme Court against implementation of ILP system in Manipur, Biren said that the state government has taken a cabinet decision and additional advocate Lenin has been entrusted to deal with the matter.
ILP system was applied in Manipur till 1950 but it was removed by the then commissioner inl950.Though the past government did not take steps to revive the system, the BJP led government under the aegis of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reintroduced it, he said, adding that the concept of reducing indigenous people of the state to minority will never be fulfilled.
He also said that ILP system will continue to be applied in Manipur after consulting constitutional experts from Delhi and government will effectively fight those challenging the system.
N Biren further said consultation with intellectuals and historians for engraving the history of different Kings of Manipur since 33 AD on the fencing wall of Maharaj Gambhir Singh Samadhi complex is almost complete but it could not be expedited and completed on time due to COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said that people of the current generation need to study the ideals of the forefathers, who did not have any fear to lay down their lives for the motherland, and should get inspiration from their patriotic feelings.
Earlier, the chief minister led the gathering in offering floral tributes to the memorial and portrait of the late king, who spearheaded the war against Awa (Burmese) to end the Seven Years of Devastation in 1826.A contingent of Manipur Rifles offered guard of honour, gun salute and sounded last post as a mark of respect to Maharaj Gambhir Singh and all those who laid down their lives in the war for freeing the motherland from the clutch of invaders.
The chief minister also offered floral tributes to the statues of Maharaj Gambhir Singh, Meidingu Narasingh and Sana Herachandra.
On the other hand, UNLF former chairman RK Meghen, who came to offer floral tributes to Maharaj Gambhir Singh, told media persons that people of Manipur are yet to have real taste of freedom though seem to be living happily in the materialistic world.
He also said that present as well as future generation need to remember the role played by Maharaj Gambhir Singh and other patriots who pushed back the Awa (Burmese) from the soil of Manipur.
According to RK Meghen, freedom cannot be achieved just by declaring a nation independent and freedom will be meaningful when people live with dignity, progress, peace and harmony.
However, Manipur is yet to reach this stage and population of outsiders in Manipur has reached 8 lakh out of the mere 30 lakh total population of the state and Meetei community is on the verge being reduced to a minority just like other minority communities.
The question of survival of Meetei and other indigenous communities of Manipur, however, has to be answered as per decision of the future generation, he added.
Comment
