Essence of June 18 spelt out
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 15 2023:
AMUCO president and the Great June Uprising Unity Day Observation Committee chairman Ph Nando Luwang has asserted, "Paying tributes to the martyrs who had laid down their lives for the cause of Manipur's integrity would be meaningless if we are not always prepared to defend the territorial boundary of Manipur" .
Ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the Great June Uprising Unity Day, a cleanliness drive was carried out at Kekrupat today.
Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the cleanliness drive, Nando said that AMUCO and UCM have been jointly observing the Great June Uprising Unity Day at Kekrupat every year on June 18 in honour of all the martyrs who laid down their lives during the people's movement in June, 2001 .
This year too, rich tributes would be paid to the martyrs but there would be no public meeting on account of the prevailing situation, he said.
Appealing to all the people to join the June 18 anniversary observation, Nando said that the supreme sacrifice made by the martyrs has been a constant source of inspiration for the younger generations to always prioritise the National interest above everything else.
He then appealed to all to always stand firm and united for the territorial and administrative integrity of Manipur.
A restive situation prevails in Manipur on account of the many forces challenging the integrity of Manipur and the Government of India's communal politics, Nando said.
It is now quite obvious that some elements have been challenging the integrity of Manipur at the influence of illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
Moreover, the Government of India tends to favour the forces inimical to the interest of united Manipur, he remarked.
The Great June Uprising Unity Day Observation Committee vice chairman Joychandra Konthoujam too appealed to all the people to come and pay tributes to the martyrs of June 18, 2001 at Kekrupat, irrespective of whether one is invited or not.
The present crisis besieging Manipur is a fall out of illegal immigrants' attempt to create a homeland of their own out of Manipur, Joychandra said.
The Chin-Kuki militants have been opening fire at innocent civilians and burning down thousands of houses for opposing their attempt to create a homeland, he said.
He then urged the Government of India not to remain silent but take up concrete actions against the Chin-Kuki militants.
The genesis of the violent crisis is known very well to the State Government.
As such, leaders of the State Government must present a detailed account of the crisis to the Government of India, Joychandra said.
Killing people and burning down houses for opposing poppy plantations and manufacturing drugs is something unacceptable in any part of the world, he said.
He further asserted that the Government of India should ponder over the situation of Manipur and its genesis, and do everything to eliminate the Chin-Kuki terrorists.
Until and unless the Chin-Kuki terrorists are eliminated or neutralised, peace will remain a far cry in Manipur, he added.