State celebrates Gaan-Ngai Festival with a call for unity and belongingness Indigenes need to join hands and work together : CM

OSR/DIPR
Imphal, Jan 12 : Chief Minister N Biren Singh has stated that  there won't be any disturbing issue in Manipur if all the indigenous communities work together with a sense of belonging.
He made the statement while attending the State Level Gaan-Ngai celebration held at Sagolband Ramji Kabui Village, today.
The programme was organised by the State Level Gaan-Ngai 2025 Celebration Committee.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, the Chief Minister urged the people to take responsibility and ownership in preserving the customs and traditions of all communities in the State.
The Chief Minister said that forgetting one's origin can lead to a loss of cultural identity  and a sense of belonging.
Saying that the epic of Khamba Thoibi clearly mentioned the bond shared between Meetei and Kabui, he added that there, however, is no effort to trace the cultural ties among the communities.
He said that issues may arise among the people of Manipur from time to time but the brotherly relation among the indigenous communities will never be broken.
Safeguarding Manipur is the responsibility of all communities living in the State, he maintained.
Appealing to all recognised communities to work together for the collective good of Manipur as the owners of the land, N Biren maintained that the sense of ownership is not seen much among the  people.
Stay away from the section of people who want to create enmity among the communities but work together to safeguard Manipur, he appealed.
People in hill districts won't fell trees on a large scale and cause deforestation and encroach on protected areas if they genuinely think they are the owners of the land, the Chief Minister said.
He also said that encroachment on rivers, drains, wetlands etc in the valley districts will affect all living beings.
People should understand why the Government is putting in effort to safeguard Reserved and Protected Forests, N Biren said and appealed to all people to inculcate a sense of responsibility and ownership.
Saying that all indigenous communities have been co-existing since time immemorial, he added that collective efforts must be put in to bring a sense of unity among the people.
"We should safeguard our rich cultural heritage and traditions, and honour the legacy of our ancestors," the Chief Minister said.
He recalled that the “Green Imphal, Green Manipur” initiative taken up during 2004-05 while he was Forest and Environment Minister and urged the people to support initiatives taken up to  safeguard nature.
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, suggested holding the  State level Gaan-Ngai festival at Sangai Ethnic Park at Moirang Khunou in a grand manner next year.
N Biren informed that the Government is seeking an additional fund of around Rs 100 crore to upgrade the Sangai Ethnic Park.
The Chief Minister further said that constructions of Tamei to Tamenglong road with an estimated budget of Rs 20 crore and Tamei to Kangpokpi road will begin soon.
Construction of Imphal-Kangchup road, on the other hand, will be completed soon, he said and maintained that three bridges will also be built along Imphal-Kangchup road.
The Chief Minister said that he will resign if anyone has a better alternative to safeguard Manipur and prove that fencing border areas, cracking down on drug trade, checking influx of illegal immigrants and  protecting forest areas are detrimental to the State.
Let's not do politics over issues which can decide the fate of Manipur, he said and added that the post of Chief Minister is not permanent for anyone.
N Biren said that his responsibility as a person who has sacrificed his life for the cause of Manipur is to safeguard the State.
Saying that some people have been scheming to trace confidential information from the Government by throwing unfounded allegations, the Chief Minister maintained that the Government, however, is obliged to maintain confidentiality for certain matters.
The Government cannot reveal all affairs of the State including the  initiatives taken up to restore normalcy in the State, he said.
Delivering a presidential speech, Water Resources Minister  Awangbow Newmai praised the Chief Minister for taking part in the Gaan-Ngai festival.
The Minister prayed for peace to prevail in Manipur on the arrival of the Gaan-Ngai festival.  
The celebration began by offering Holy wine to the Almighty and it was followed by religious prayers, traditional songs, cultural dance etc.
The function was attended by Forest Minister Th Biswajit Singh, Chairman of Hill Area Committee Dinganglung Gangmei, MLAs S Kunjakeswor Singh, Th Arunkumar Singh, M Rameshwar and Janghemlung Panmei among others.