Koireng-led UNLF states stand on concert mess
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 18 2024: With reference to improper observance of Patriots' Day by All Manipur Football Association and Mami TV on August 13, the Koireng-led proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) shared its views to the public on commemorating the revered day with a rock concert.

According to a UNLF statement, Patriots' Day observance by AMFA and Mami TV at Khuman Lampak to remember forefathers of the land who fought valiantly against the mighty British was marred by bid to dilute essence of the event as entertainment by organising a rock concert.

People were shocked and angered by the event held quite contradictory to the traditional Patriots' Day with the Front also having similar sentiment, it said.

The statement issued by publicity committee said the Front started observing August 13 as 'Athoubasing Gi Ningsing Numit' since decades back in coordination with the people while the government of Manipur granted recognition and observed August 13 as Patriots' Day.

However, the Patriots' Day observance by AMFA and Mami TV this year with a rock concert evoke strong condemnation by the people particularly against the organisers due to improper conduct of young boys and girls among the audience.

In the aftermath of the event, several individuals involved directly in organising the concert including members of rock bands were kept in the custody of an organisation.

After blindfolded for four days and interrogated intensely, AMFA president disclosed to the media that the rock concert was conducted under duress and even named a cadre of the UNLF/MPA.

AMFA president's disclosure was not surprising as it was natural for him to escape four days of intense mental and physical pressure, the Koireng-led UNLF said.

Not only AMFA but different organisations which sympathise UNLF had conducted many programmes related with revolutionary movement in the past and there were ways for communicating with outfit's ranks and files from top to bottom if they were dissatisfied with pressure mounted by e as named by the AMFA president.

The cadre being known to the AMFA president had asked for organising the event.

In view of proxy war being waged by India since May 3, 2023 to give communal tinge to the ongoing revolutionary movement, the intention of the cadre was that conducting rock concert blended with patriotic songs on Patriots' Day could serve as a voice for stirring intense sovereignty movement in future.

Unfortunately, the cadre concerned failed to convince the organisers properly and there was communication gap as the cadre stayed in very far place.

Lack of patriotic sentiments in its true sense among the organisers, singers and event manager coupled with the inability to fully control the event and bring it to the intended patriotic spirit were main reasons for blemishing the event held on the sacred day, the UNLF statement said.

While asserting that UNLF/MPA cadres had long been fighting Indian imperialism with strict adherence to revolutionary doctrine, the UNLF statement expressed suspicion that there could be intentional attempt to malign image of the outfit while taking advantage of oversight by organisers of the Patriots' Day event and AMFA president's remark.

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