IMPHAL, Sept 11: The Zelinagrong Youth Front (ZYF) has strongly objected to the recent statement of a minister of the state to organize the orange festival in Imphal.
A release of ZYF stated the orange festival is celebrated every year at Tamenglong district for the last ten years but there has no change with no incentive or any other benefits provided to the orange growers so far apart from some cash award given to best orange growers as a part of the competition.
It mentioned that the celebration of this important festival without extending necessary support will only discourage the growers to participate in the festival and cause lack of interest to further continue the profession especially when their hard toils involving several years is unattended.
The objective of the Govt. to create sense to earn livelihood by adopting income generating activities so as to substitute govt. employment may prove futility without proper guidance through extending necessary support, the release added.
The people of the district have great desires to celebrate this year Orange Festival by inviting the Prime Minister of India or UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi or Union Ministers so that the celebration is more meaningful and the significance of orange festival is witnessed by the central leaders, the Zeliangrong Youth Front maintained in the release.
The Zeliangrong people have also objected the comments made by the dignitaries regarding this year’s Orange Festival to be held in Imphal unlike the previous years in. The comment made by dignitaries without sensing the pulse of the people is not in the interest of the people of the district and any decision adopted to hold the said festival at Imphal will be considered as indication to abolish the Orange Festival. The Orange Festival is the main factor for Tamenglong district popularity to the outside world, therefore, the plan to shift the festival celebration venue is irrelevant and not acceptable to the Zeliangrong people, the release noted.
