Formation of UCM recalled on its silver jubilee

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 3: The United Committee Manipur  (UCM) which was set up on July 3, 2001 after uniting several civil society organisations celebrated its silver jubilee today. After the UCM’s flag was unfurled at its office at Lamphelpat, a public function was held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound in commemoration of the silver jubilee.
AMKIL president Lou-rembam Nganbi, Kanglamei president Y Leirikleima, UPF president Nongthom-bam Rupachandra, IPSA president Maibam Bishe-swor, NIPCO president Oinam Premjit, PANDAM president Yumnam Dilip-kumar and ACOAM-Lup Kangleipak president Soraisam Sanjit attended the function as presidium members which was presided by UCM president YK Dhiren.
The gathering observed a two-minute silence in honour of all the expired office bearers of the committee.
Extending best wishes to all people on the occasion of UCM’s silver jubilee, YK Dhiren said that the UCM stands in solidarity with all the displaced persons and all sections of people who have been suffering on account of the restive situation.
He appealed to all sections of people to come together and work collectively in order to bring an end the protracted crisis and restore peace in the State.
Dhiren said that the Government of India executed a nefarious plan in 2001 to drive wedges and polarise the different communities living together in Manipur.
Sensing the nefarious design of the Government, people from all walks of life came to the streets, launched an unprecedented mass movement and ultimately defeated the evil design. It was in the wake of this mass movement that several CSOs came together and formed the UCM, he said.
Saying that strong forces of the Government of India have been constantly working to destroy the integrity of Manipur, Dhiren asserted that these forces used Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and other proxy armies to  launch a sustained armed aggression against indigenous people of the land on May 3, 2023 and ignite communal conflicts.
He appealed to all sections of people to under- stand the present crisis, the forces behind it and work collectively for a united Manipur, and to foster communal harmony.