Forgo Chakkouba, advises SANULAL
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 02 2023:
The Salai Apunba Nupi Lamjing Lup (SANULAL) has appealed to all the people to give a miss to the Ningol Chakkouba festival this year and divert whatever expenditures that may be incurred in celebrating the festival toward fighting inimical forces determined to break up Manipur.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, SANULAL advisor Thingnam (O) Ibethoi pointed out that unprovoked aggression by Kukis with the sinister objective of disintegrating Manipur has reduced many Meitei villages to ashes.
While a number of innocent villagers have been slaughtered by Kuki terrorists, many Meitei youths have achieved martyrdom fighting against the Kuki aggressors while many others have been maimed, Ibethoi said.
With their houses reduced to ashes, thousands of Meitei people who fled for their lives with nothing but the clothes they were wearing are now suffering extreme misery at relief camps, she said.
With a strong fire of revenge burning in their hearts and considering the National crisis, the families and many others are in no mood to celebrate Ningol Chakkouba festival, she said.
All the people ought to share the suffering of those families who have been terrorised by Kuki aggressors, Ibethoi asserted before appealing to all the people not to celebrate Ningol Chakkouba either on the second day of Hiyangei or in the following days.
"Rather than celebrating Ningol Chakkouba, all of us must be prepared to protect Manipur and defeat the aggressors", she asserted.
She also appealed to all the people to save and divert the huge amount of money that may be spent on celebrating Ningol Chakkouba toward the collective efforts to protect Manipur.
She warned the Kuki militants to stop their aggression immediately.
Laishram (N) Aheibam (O) Sophia Leima said that she would not be going to Ningol Chakkouba this year even though this is her first time.
Incidentally, Sophia got married on May 3 this year, the day Kuki militants launched their aggression.
She said "How could I celebrate Ningol Chakkouba when thousands of families have been living a life of extreme misery in relief camps and thousands of brothers have been defending villages day and night against Kuki terrorists" .
She too appealed to all the people to divert the Ningol Chakkouba expenditures towards providing the requirements of village defence volunteers and displaced families staying in relief camps.