IMPHAL, April 17: The 33rd Mikap Thokpa Numit (Realisation Day) 2013 was observed today at Pishum Chingamacha, Hao Ground, Singjamei organized by the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) and participated by various civil society groups, community leaders and students.
Floral tributes were paid to the memorial stones of Huidrom Loken and Potsangbam Premananda, the two students who died in police firing on April 17, 1980 during the `go back foreigners` movement taken up by AMSU.
As done every year, the day is commemorated as ‘Realisation Day’.
Speaking on the occasion, Thiyam Naresh, president, AMSU said, “The initiative taken up by the present students of the state are inadequate in any struggle as compared to the late student leaders who fought for the state and sacrificed their life in the struggle to save the indigenous people of the state in the 1980.”
He continued further that the AMSU had taken up the `go back foreigners` movement in a democratic way demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System (ILP) which was removed by Himat Singh, the 2nd Chief Commissioner on October 15, 1949 after Manipur had merged to India.
Unfortunately in a confrontation with the police force two students namely Potsangbam Lukhoi alias Premanda and Huidrom Lokan were shot dead by the police personnel while many were injured.
He elaborated that after the unfortunate incident, an agreement was signed between AMSU and the state government to push out the foreigners staying in the state and to stop foreigners from flooding into the state.
“But even though the agreement was signed, no steps have been taken up by the government till now,” he lamented.
Further he claimed that as per the census report of 2011, 30% of the state is being occupied by foreigners.
“The census report of 2011 puts the total population of the state at 27,21,156 but till now, the Directorate of Census has not given any clarity over the increase in the population of foreigners in the state which is a matter of shame,” Naresh continued.
He further pointed out that the state has a dense population of foreigners in both the hills and valley today.
According to the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reform Act (MLR and LR) 1960, the valley people are not allowed to occupy and reside in any hill districts but no obstruction has been put up for the foreigners flooding into the state, he added.
Dr Gambhir Singh, Reader English Dept, Manipur University and Former President AMSU said the realisation day is being observed to realize the sacrifice of the deceased souls.
He further appealed to the Government to protect the indigenous people of the state and to implement ILP to stop the flooding of foreigners to the state.
Like in Tripura and Maghalaya the indigenous people of the state has become the minority community , he cautioned.
Our Jiri Correspondent adds: The 33rd Realization Day was also observed under the aegis of the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) District Committee at the Auditorium Hall of Govt. Higher Secondary School at Jiribam at 10 am today.
L.Ranjit Kumar Singh, Principal Jiribam Govt. Hr Sec.School, Y.Sanjeev Singh, President All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) Ditrict Committee, B.Sharat Sharma- Advisor, JIMPAL, M.Hemanta Singh –President JDO, S.Shusila Devi, President, AJMP and H.Mema Devi, President JIMPAL attended the function as Chief Guest, President and Guest of honour respectively.
Th.Binodini Devi ,VP, All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) District Committee in his speech mentioned the activities taken up by AMSU in Manipur and the issues being faced by students at present.
Various experts made speeches about the observation day and Inner line permit system (IPL), policy programs for the welfare of the students and the role of the government.
Students and people belonging to various communities and Meira paibis also participated in the function.