IMPHAL, Aug 9: The 74th anniversary of the Quit India Movement was observed today at Congress Bhavan here under the aegis of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
The commemorative function started with a motorcycle rally and offering of floral tributes to the photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subashchandra Bose and Rani Gaidinliu.
Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that it was under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi that the Quit India Movement was launched all over India against the British colonial rule.
The history of India is largely a narrative of Congress party, Ibobi asserted.
It was the massive non-violent movements launched by different freedom fighters that ultimately drove out British colonial rulers from the country.
India achieved independence in 1947 but Mahatma Gandhi was left dejected when India was bifurcated into India and Pakistan. This was not what Gandhiji dreamt of. He was a staunch champion of a united India.
The British rulers knew that India would one day become a super power. That was why they sowed the seeds to divide India into two countries.
Shortly after independence, Gandhiji was assassinated on the assumption that he was acting against the interest of Hindus.
It is a matter of pride that Gandhiji is deeply revered by all countries and even the UN has declared October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, as the International Day of Peace. The Constitution of India is secular in spirit and content and all the citizens have the right to profess any religion of their choice, Ibobi asserted.
The Congress party would work to inform the public about all the major activities carried out by the Congress Government in the last 15 years ahead of the State Assembly election. “The hill people and the plain people are one and equal and we must live together with mutual love and respect”, Ibobi asserted.
MPCC president TN Haokip called upon all the people to follow the footsteps of the Indian freedom fighters.
