Joykisan turns down Sangai Festival invitation

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 10: Citing the restive situation prevailing in the State on account of the Indo-Naga peace talks, Congress MLA Kh Joykisan has resolved to stay away from this year’s edition of Manipur Sangai Festival.
Speaking to media persons at his Khoyathong residence today, Joykisan noted that many CSOs including COCOMI have been appealing to all the people to suspend all festivities in view of the tense situation prevailing in the State and the growing threat to the State’s integrity.
Informing that he received a letter from Tourism Department seeking confirmation for his attendance at Sangai Festival as a dignitary, Joykisan said that he would neither attend the festival nor go to festival venues this year.
“As an elected representative, I cannot go against the will of the masses”, he said.
Taking due note of the growing threat to the State’s integrity, the Congress MLA asserted that it’s not the time to indulge in festivities.
He also decried that the State Government has been paying little attention to the popular demand for convening a special session of the State Assembly in order to adopt a strong resolution  to protect the integrity of Manipur at all costs.   
BJP may maintain its habit of telling falsehoods on other matters but they should refrain from telling falsehoods on such crucial issues like the State’s integrity, he said.
Taking due note of BJP’s claim that the Naga solution would not affect the State’s territorial boundary, Joykisan asked if BJP and its allies would accept internal divisions, division of administrative and financial    power.
He went to ask if the Government is planning to sharply polarise the indigenous communities of Manipur who have been living together since ages.
Internal administrative and financial divisions would pave for ultimate disintegration of Manipur and it would remain a black mark in history, noted the MLA.
He then appealed to all communities to shoulder collective responsibility and stand united for the integrity of Manipur, and also to support any mass movement spearheaded by the COCOMI.
The four MPs from Manipur cannot remain silent when Citizenship Amendment Bill is tabled in the Parliament this month. They must oppose the Bill and make all efforts to see that the Bill is not passed, Joykisan added.