IMPHAL, June 18: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) today observed the 11th Great June Uprising Day at the memorial complex Kekrupat where thousands of people paid floral tributes to the 18 martyrs who laid down their lives for safeguarding the territorial integrity of the state during the June 18, 2001 uprising.
The 18 martyrs were honoured with general salute and rich tributes at Kekrupat while the UCM President Yumnam Nabachandra honoured the heroes by folding the committee’s flag for three minutes.
The event organized at Kekrupat was also attended by many people from outside the state and they took part in paying floral tributes to the heroes of the great June uprising.
Giving the keynote address UCM General Secretary Joychandra Konthoujam said, “We can sacrifice for the state and stand to safeguard it.”
He charged the Indian government that it is still continuing to poison the minds of the people in its effort to appease the NSCN-IM.
Agartala based social activist Yambem Debabrata while speaking on the occasion said he came here to donate at least blood on this day as a mark of respect to the martyrs. Manipur is a state to which India feels jealousy.
Leishamba Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur hailed the people for their bravery and said the June 18, 2001 event was the retaliation against the challenge and threat posed to the state by a handful of people.
Saying that we are now vigilant and will continue to do, the titular king remarked that the challengers, apparently referring to the NSCN-IM, have realized the internal contradictions after the demand of a new separate state within Nagaland itself surfaced.
He also insisted that for the sake of territorial integrity of the state, we should unite together and make up strength and enrich our culture, otherwise the aspiration of integrity will naturally fall apart and fail.
Former Editor of Freedom newspaper Rajkumar Ranendrajit said, “It is not the time to fight among ourselves.”
He said we cannot advance forward as there is rampant corruption in the state. He regretted that the government has kept its hands tight when a stage and an integrity pillar was proposed at Kekrupat.
Yumnam Nabachandra, president, UCM said the committee is the apex body of all the communities in the state while blaming the Indian government for its policy of incitement of violence and killing by signing the ceasefire agreement “Without Territorial Limit” with the NSCN-IM.
The premier musical group Roop Raag presented a patriotic song dedicated to the martyrs in the opening ceremony.
White shawls were presented to the families of the 18 heroes at the function. At the event, 25 people attended as presidium members.
On the Great June Uprising Day, all the schools, colleges, both government and private offices were closed. All the bus services, including inter-state bus service remained off the roads. Normal business and all the markets were also shut down.
A host of state ministers, MLAs were also paid rich tributes to the martyrs. They are Okram Landhoni, I Hemochandra, N Biren , Kh joykishan, AK Miraibai, RK Imo, Kh Govindas and Kh Ratankumar.
