Realisation Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 17 2021: The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) observed the 41st Realisation Day (Meekap Thokpa Numit) to com-memorate the 1980 uprising against influx of outsiders into the State.

At the observance which began by hoisting AMSU's flag, AMSU and CSO leaders and students paid fitting tributes to the two students who died in the anti-foreigners movement of 1980 at Pishum Chingamacha.

The main function was held at the campus of Manipur College.

On the occasion, AMSU president Chalamba recalled that Manipur was forcefully merged into the Indian Union on October 15, 1949, after it got its freedom from the British colonial rule in 1947 .

After the merger, the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur Himat Singh withdrew the permit system which was enforced to check entry of outsiders into the State on November 18, 1950, he said.

As the number of outsiders started multiplying in the State since then, AMSU launched an anti-foreigners movement in 1980, said the AMSU president adding that two students - Potshangbam Premananda and Huidrom Loken who took part in the movement were killed in police firing.

Claiming that the number of outsider is now greater than that of the hill people today, he added that the situation is grim as there is even a possibility of non-natives ruling over the indigenes.

Though the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) has been extended to the State, there is still neither any report of identification of non-natives and sending them back to their native places nor any policy to save the indigenous people, he contended.

Asking if the current permit system is able to protect the indigenous people of Manipur, the AMSU president asserted that the Government of India seems to be using different techniques to avert another uprising of the people.

Speaking about the issue of Mt Koubru, Chalamba asserted that a certain community claiming ownership of the mountain is truly unfortunate.

Saying that Mt Koubru is a sacred mountain to the Meitei/Meetei since time immemorial, he urged the State Government to take the issue with utmost seriousness to avert any confrontation between communities.

The observance was also attended by Assistant Professor L Gojendro of Manipur College; Associate Professor Dr Yumnam Premananda of Manipur University and convenor of JCILPS YK Dhiren.

Comment