Floral tributes offered to June 18 Martyrs at Kekrupat
Mail News Service NNN
Imphal, June 18 : The 12th Great June Uprising and Unity Day jointly organized by AMUCO and UCM was observed today at Kekrupat Imphal. From the early morning many people came at Kekrupat and offered floral tributes to the 18 martyres who sacrificed their lives for the preservation of boundary of Manipur.
KT Rahman president AMUCO, Y. Nabachandra president UCM, K. Langamba, RK Ranendrajit, Ibotombi Khuman, Dr. Dhanabir Laishram, Y. Leirik Leima, Kh. Sakhi Leima, M. Memchoubi Devi, Kakomlunglu Kamei and leaders of various communities were on the dais. Dhanabir Laishram said that we should not forget that unity in strength. We should struggle for demanding one issue unitedly. One day all communities inhabited in Manipur will unite. Nagas also will come in Manipur and join in the state. The Kukis also will come and join at the common platform. Manipur is not for only Meiteis. It is for all communities.
The commemorative function marking the 12th Great June 18 Uprising was jointly orgainsed by United Committee Manipur (UCM) and All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) began at 5 am by presenting wake-up songs for the morning.
Thousands of people from several parts of the state including far flung areas were present at the Kekrupat where the mortal remains of the 18 people, who died martyred during the June 18, 2001 unrest, lied. The function organised to pay homage to the martyrs continued till 6 pm.
Apart from giving a general salute to the martyrs at 8:30 am, the two flags of UCM and AMUCO were unfurled in the half-mast position in remembrance and honour of the departed souls at the function.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, Works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, MLA O Landhoni Devi, Social Welfare minister AK Mirabai, MLA Biren and several leaders of Manipur state CPI unit also paid tributes to the martyrs at the Kekrupat.
A two-minute silence was later observed in honour of the willing victims of June 18 after SUTI Sangam presented four patriotic songs at the occasion.
For the first time the observation was jointly organised by all the organisations in a single spot. After the government of India agreed to extend truce with the NSCN (IM) beyond Nagaland in June 2001 there was a massive uprising in Manipur during which offices of political parties, residences of Chief Minister, ministers , Assembly complex were attacked . CRPF resorted to firing to control the uprising and 18 people including a woman died. Every year June 18 is observed as Unity day and the Great June Uprising by different organisations.
Chairman of the organising committee and President of All Manipur United Clubs Organisation , KT Rehman speaking on the occasion said the majority community of Manipur the Meitei is extremely broad minded and that is why a Muslim was able to become a Chief Minister and tribal became Chief Minister repeatedly.
He said it is the duty of all the communities settled in Manipur to work for integrity and development. People should fight against social evils like drug to build up a great nation he said. Y Nabachandra, President of United Committee Manipur speaking on the occasion said government officials often created problems while people tried to help family members of the martyrs. He further said the central government has different tongues . Regarding the Naga problem Union Home Minister gave different opinions at Manipur and Nagaland. He further said the government also leaks out information to see reaction of the people specially during election time.
Before the recent Nagaland elections the central government tried to solve the Naga problem but after the end of the elections the matter was forgotten. Representatives of all the tribes of Manipur and family members of the martyrs were also honoured on the occasion. Speaking at the occasion, former UCM president Y Dilipkumar said, “We just cannot remember the historic day just by paying floral tributes to the heroes.
Voicing concern over the ongoing peace parleys between the Centre and NSCN-IM, Dilipkumar blamed the Naga rebel group for fomenting tensions among different ethnic communities in the state.
He said, “We should fight together against the ‘divide and rule policy’ of the Government of India.”
Gaikhangam also spoke during the function. He called for peaceful co-existence amongst various communities in Manipur and said, “Let us work together to avoid reappearance of such a day in future.”
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tributes-offered-to-june-18-martyrs/