Republic Day rehearsal deferred, bodies give boycott call
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 23 2024:
The state government has deferred the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day celebration, which was meant to be held on Wednesday, to Thursday i.e., on January 25 .
According to a report, Manipur Police headquarters has forwarded a specific message to the SPs of different districts, CID, Traffic, home guard, MR and IRB commandants, to make necessary security arrangements in this regard.
Meanwhile, citing present unrest situation in the state, Johnstone Higher Secondary Students' Union 2022-23 has stated that the students will not participate in the Republic Day celebration.
In a release, the union said that people are suffering since May 3 with Kuki militants launching attacks on Meetei community.
How can students celebrate Republic Day when the land is suffering, it questioned, reaffirming its stand not to take part in the celebration.
Similarly, Bishnupur Akoiba Apunba Lup (BAAL) has appealed to denizens of Bishnupur to boycott Republic Day in the district stating that people of Manipur are facing serious problems as the state and central governments fail to prevent Kuki militants from attacking the Meeteis ever since the crisis erupted on May 3 last year.
Addressing media persons at its Bishnupur office, BAAL president L Devachand said that the proxy war waged by Kuki-Zo narco terrorists on Meetei community has left the indigenous people of Manipur in a dire state.
A number of innocent Meeteis have lost their lives and many houses reduced to ashes and thousands rendered homeless.
Stating that the first and foremost duty of a democratic state is to safeguard the life and property of its citizens, Devachand said that since the state and the government of India have failed to protect the lives of the people and safeguard their properties, there is no point in celebrating Republic Day in Manipur.
Appealing to the people of Bishnupur to abstain from celebration of Republic Day on January 26, he said that the government should not consider the act of BAAL as anti-national but to consider it as the cry of the people whose basic fundamental rights have been violated.
BAAL secretary T Bikram, vice president Kh Dharjit and members were also present during the press conference.