CCSK remembers first democratically elected Govt in Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 18 2024: Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK) commemorated the establishment of the first democratically elected government iff Manipur on October 18,1948 and observed the day as 'Kangleipak Manipur Gi Puwarida Meeyamgi Ahanba Leingak Leikhiba Numit' at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy on Friday.

The observance function was attended by veteran politician Dr M Nara, CCSK president Jeetendra Ningomba, associate professor Th Bharat of CSSEIP, Manipur University, associate professor K Indrakumar of DM University and former NHPC chief engineer M Lalmani, as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

In his address, Dr Nara said "October 18 is a very significant and important day for the people of Manipur as it was on this day in 1948 that the first democratically elected government was established".

Reminding that the day marks the establishment of Manipur's first people's elected government with the convening of Manipur Legislative Assembly for the first time, he said stressed that the younger generation should be made aware about significance of such a historic day.

According to Dr M Nara, there will be efficient administration when elections are conducted in a fair manner and people allowed to choose candidates of their choice, or else there will be no good governance.

"The present society in Manipur has the spirit of conducting elections in the right and fair manner and electing good representatives and this indeed is a good sign," he noted.

In his speech, Jeetendra Ningomba recalled that the first election in the history of Manipur to have a democratic government in 1948 was conducted in two phases and Manipur became the second country in South East Asia to have a democratically elected government.

"Representatives elected in the election convened a legislative assembly at Darbar hall on October 18, 1948, he related, adding that the day is being observed as the first democratically elected government of the people in Manipur.

According to Jeetendra, Manipur was an independent country before its merger into India but today's generation seems to have forgotten that Manipur had a democratically elected government before the birth of India.

At the same time, he emphasised the importance of revisiting this crucial chapter in Manipur's history while discussing the current situation in the state.

"The initiative being taken by the Government of India to resolve the more than 17 month violence in the state is welcome but peace talks to resolve the crisis must not compromise unity and integrity of Manipur, " he said.

He then called upon the government of India to acknowledge the history of Manipur and how it became a part of the country, stating that the same would be instrumental in resolving the current crisis.

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