IMPHAL, December 29: The yearlong celebration of 4th Nikhil Hindu Mahasabha, Chinga Mipham was launched by Dr Moirangthem Nara, president of All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur today. The function was organized by the AITUC, Manipur and Manipur Loumee Lup at Irabot Bhawan.
Dr Nara said that the yearlong observation of Chinga Mipham is to demand the rightful claim of the people that the government has been avoiding, he said. The campaign will “confront to get the rights but not beg”, and will be spread wide across the valley and hills for bringing a social change in our state.
During the year 1938, the people of Manipur were deprived of their rights by both the King and British empire and treated as servants and denied social progress. But Irabot was the only individual who stood up and made sacrifices with strength for people of Manipur. He fought for people in order to bring about a good social life and framed measures for the welfare of the people which must not be forgotten. Irabot struggled in order to discover a way to escape from the colonial rule.
Deriding the present electoral process, he said that the people do not know the real meaning of democracy. People think it is the electoral system but this is not the full meaning of it because the majoritarian electoral system means “the first past to the post,” he stated.
Dr Nara lamented that the present system of electoral system in India has defects and needs to be changed and for the overall benefit of democracy and the society. We need to change or reform the majoritarian electoral system of India to a proportional electoral system, he suggested.
The past election of 10th Assembly of Manipur has taught us about the negative impacts of the system. So during this yearlong observation of 4th Chinga Mipham, we must start creating awareness about proportional electoral system. He added that the 4th Chinga Mipham is the awakening meet for the people of Manipur so this meeting place must be preserved. He reminded that this meeting was incidentally the first movement for social change and human rights under the guidance of Jananeta Hijam Irabot.
In the key note address of the observation Laishram Sotinkumar, general secretary of all AITUC, Manipur highlighted the details of the yearlong observation and the activities. He further mentioned that the observation will be demanding the right of labour including minimum commensuration of Rs 10000 for each labourer and monthly pension of Rs 3000.
He added that in the year 1938 Jananeta Irabot raise his voice against the king’s rule and demanded rule of the people after its removal. He demanded free and compulsory education during the Chinga Mipham. So, we need to elect a labour’s representative as Member of Parliament.
The function was attended by members of the Manipur Luomee Lup who were present at the Delhi agitation on December 11-16 and demonstrated at Jantar Mantar and stormed the Parliament during its session to demand the rights of the labour.
Dr Nara, CPI leader Langol Iboyaima, M Shakhi Devi Working president of All Manipur Nupi Marup, Kh Gyaneshore TUCC leader and Sotinkumar were present as the presidium member of the function.