IMPHAL, April 17: The All Manipur Students’ Union today observed the 36th Realisation day “Meekap Thokpa Numit” with students from across the State participating in paying floral tributes at the Martyrs’ Memorial site at Pishum Chingamacha commemorating the Anti-Foreigner movement of 1980.
Speaking at the observation, AMSU president Sanasam Subhash said AMSU has been observing the day for the past 36 years and will continue to do so to safeguard the indigenous people of the State.
In 1980, the AMSU had led the “Go back foreigners” movement during which two student leaders Potsangbam Premananda and Huidrom Loken were killed in police firing.
Students from across the State paid floral tributes before the portraits of the two student leaders at their memorial site.
A rally was also taken out from the site to the Manipur College where a public meeting was also conducted.
Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the observation, Subhash called for unity among the people of the State irrespective of caste, creed and community.
He said people should be united to bring development in the State.
It is unfortunate that both the State and the Central governments continue to neglect the demand to safeguard the indigenous people of the State, he observed.
He said the government had signed an agreement with the AMSU in 1980 to control the influx of migrants into the State.
Another agreement was signed in 1994 with the then Governor when the State was under the Presidents Rule, he said adding that in 2015, the government had passed three bills for the protection of the indigenous people.
However, all the agreements and the bills are yet to be implemented in the State, he asserted.
Citing (L) Sapam Robinhood’s sacrifice, who died during a student rally demanding implementation of the ILP in the State last year, Subhash said it is time for the people to come together and be united to take further the movement to safeguard the indigenous people of the State.
A blood donation camp in association with the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences was also conducted as part of the observation wherein 65 persons donated blood at the Manipur College, Imphal.
JIRIBAM (JNN): The 36th Realisation Day (Meekap Thokpa) commemorating the students uprising in 1980 against the influx of outsiders into the state was also observed today at the office hall of AMSU, Jiribam.
The observation was organised by the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), District Committee, Jiribam.
The program started with offering of floral tributes before the portraits of Potshangbam Premananda and Huidrom Lokendro, who were killed in police firing on April 17, 1980 during the “Foreigners go back” movement.
The observation was attended by Dr N Bijaya Devi, principal, Jiri College, Jiribam; Y Sanjiv Singh, president, AMSU District Committee, Jiribam and L Romen Kumar Singh, advocate &former-president, AMSU District Committee, Jiribam; P. Ranabir Singh, President, MSF Jiri Special Branch; Ch. Rustum Singh, Vice-President, KSA Jiribam Zonal Council as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
L Jaminikanta Singh, asst. prof. Jiri College; M. Maipaksana Mangang, president of All Jiribam United Clubs Association and B. Sharat Sharma, advisor, JIMPAL also attended the observation as resource persons.