COVID-19 strengthens hill-valley bond: Titular king
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 09 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic has unwittingly strengthened the fraternal shared between hill people and plain people of Manipur, remarked titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba.

Representatives of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL) and Hongman (Khongbal Tangkhul) presented vegetables gathered from hill areas to the royal palace today.

Conveying his gratitude and acknowledgement to the Tangkhul bodies, the titular king remarked that the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened the hill-valley relationship.

COVID-19 strengthens hill-valley bond: Titular king

Just as the whole world has been suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic, people in both the hills and valley of Manipur have been suffering equally and the suffering has brought the hill people and plain people closer, Sanajaoba said.

Keeping aside all differences, hill people and plain people have been helping each other in this testing time, he noted.

There is nothing political in this hill-valley cooperation but entirely humanitarian.

It is a spontaneous response to the grave situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, said the titular king.

He remarked that nothing is more gratifying than the oneness shown by hill people and plain people in such hard times.

"I have been working towards this end for the last 25 years.

It seems the Almighty has blessed us this time with what our forefathers wished", Sanajaoba said.

Noting that the vegetables brought by the Tangkhul bodies are priceless, the titular king conveyed heartfelt gratitude to TNL, TNWL and Hongman villagers.

He said that the vegetables brought today would be distributed to underprivileged people.

TNL executive member Hopeson Horam, TNWL vice-president Kashung Tennyson and Tangkhul Shanao Long, Hongman president Merina Muinao and their team were presented a stole each by the titular king.

In the meantime, the Sangaiprou Kabui Youth Organisation presented masks to Leishemba Sanajaoba.