Tarpan offered to June 18 Martyrs
Source: The Sangai Express / Jiri News Network

Imphal, September 24 2014: The United Committee Manipur, UCM including various civil society organizations of the State offered tributes to the martyrs of the Great June Uprising at Kekrupat Memorial Complex to mark the conclusion of the Langban Heitha Leithaba (Tarpan) observance.

Talking to media persons on the sideline of the closing observance of Langban Heitha Leithaba, UCM president Y Nabachandra said paying obeisance to the departed souls during Langban Heitha Leithaba (Tarpan) observance has been a religious ritual in Manipuri society since long time back.

"We offer tribute to the departed souls of the 18 heroes to commemorate their supreme sacrifice for the cause of territorial integrity of Manipur", he said.

Tarpan tributes being offered

A delegation of the NSCN (IM) which reached New Delhi some time back is planning to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring about a solution to the 17 years long unresolved peace talk between the GoI and NSCN (IM) .

UCM also expects positive outcome from the peace talk and is still longing for an amicable solution to the prolonged Naga issue.

Nevertheless, UCM will fight with all its strength if the proposed talk between the NSCN (IM) delegation and the Government of India impinges on the territorial boundary of the State which has been safeguarded from all invasions by the past generations, he warned.

Stating that UCM has been opposing the idea of disintegrating the territorial integrity of Manipur, he said that 18 heroes sacrificed their lives on June 18, 2001 for the cause of territorial integrity when the then BJP led NDA Government in the Centre and NSCN (IM) signed the Bangkok declaration extending the cease fire to Manipur.

BJP led NDA has again come to power now and is all set to bring about a solution to the Naga issue through dialogue with IM.

However, the proposed talk between the GoI and IM should not evoke a repeat of the June 18 incident, he said.

Regarding ILP issue, the UCM president, while lauding the step of the State Government to bring a solution to the issue through peaceful talk with the agitating ILP activists, said that implementation of ILP system is a must to protect the minority indigenous people from extinction due to uncontrolled influx of foreigners and non locals.

ILP doesn't mean prevention of the entry and stay of the non-locals but to allow their entry under a systematic rule.

Government should frame a suitable regulation/rule to check the influx of migrants without further delay, he demanded.