Oppn parties observe 73rd Manipur Kanba Numit

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 21 : Opposition parties in the State today observed the 73rd Manipur Kanba Numit as well as carried out protest against the NDA Government led by Narendra Modi at Irawat Park, Lamlai Chalou.
The observance programme was organised by Irawat Celebration Committee and CPI, Lamlai Local Council and the inaugural lamp was lit with sacred light brought from the 'Pungdongbam Incident memorial shrine'.
Hijam Irabot and those who have made supreme sacrifice in the Pungdongbam incident were fondly recalled by the attendees who also paid floral tributes to the photos of the late souls.
Matters related to the protest and their demands were also discussed during the observance which was attended by CPI National executive member, Dr M Nara; State secretary, L Sotinkumar; State secretariat members, N Singhajit, RK Amusana, S Yaima; former secretary of CPI Lamlai Local Council, E Syamkeshor as presidium members.
Representatives of 11 political parties which are protesting against Modi-led Government and pressing a range of demands also attended the event and spoke on the Government's alleged ‘misrule’.
Speaking at the occasion, CPI leader L Sotinkumar said that the observance is organised as Manipur Kanba Numit every year to commemorate the movement led by Lamyanba Hijam Irabot on September 21, 1948 against the proposed Purbanchal Pradesh which was to be created by merging Manipur, Tripura, Lushai Hills and Cachar.
On the said day, a meeting called by Lamyanba Hijam Irawat at MDU in connection with the Purbanchal Pradesh issue and a large number of farmers who were marching from the Lamlai side to attend the meeting, Sotinkumar recalled and added that the farmers were stopped at Pungdongbam by police before a standoff ensued where in a police officer was killed and many farmers had to face police brutality.
Following the incident which is now commemorated as the Pungdongbam incident, Hijam Irabot who called the meeting had to go underground, he said.
The core idea of the movement was to denounce the proposed State of Purbanchal Pradesh since Manipur was already a unique State with its own culture, tradition, he said. To recall the movement, the day is celebrated annually as  "Manipur Kanba Numit", he added. As the movement has a close similarity with the 11 day protest of the Opposition parties, the observation and protest meeting was organised jointly, he continued.
The very idea of a one Manipur as envisaged by Lamyanba Irabot is constantly facing threatened and people are forced to suffer the liberal economic policies of the present Government, he observed.
He also alleged that the BJP is trampling the Constitution to pursue their goal of attaining 'Hindu Rashtra' and systematically destroying the idea of secularism and democracy in the country.
The country is in total disorder with public sector services like train service, flight service, hospitals being privatized; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed pushing many to below poverty line, he continued while adding that the BJP led Government in the State is no exception as it has no concrete policy for the welfare and development of the people.
Due to botched approaches, the Government is even unable to organise "Go to Hills" mission in hill districts successfully, he said.