Rich tributes paid to Maharaj Gambhir Singh External forces, conspiracy led to current crisis : Biren

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 9 : Chief Minister N Biren has reiterated that external influence and a long time conspiracy aimed at disintegrating Manipur led to the current crisis.
Even though the campaign of a particular community (Meitei) for Scheduled Tribe status was the immediate flash point of the current crisis, there would have been several hidden agenda, he said.
The Meiteis have been demanding ST status. The Government of India may or may not entertain the demand but a huge rally was organised in opposition to the demand.
It was on the day of this rally that the unsuspecting and innocent Meitei people were attacked and their houses burnt down, Biren stated.  
The Chief Minister was speaking at the 191st death anniversary of Maharaj Gambhir Singh held at Maharaj Gambhir Samadhi, Langthabal (Canchipur) today.
The function was attended by many Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary and other high ranking officials.
The Chief Minister appealed to all the people to go to Revenue Department, Forest Department and  study old records with respect to the current crisis.
He urged the people to study whether a village can be given official recognition by the Deputy Commissioner or the DFO or the PCCF.
Even if the past generations have committed mistakes, the present generation must ensure that such no mistakes are committed, Biren said.
Led by the Chief Minister, the gathering paid floral tributes to the portrait of Maharaj Gambhir Singh. A contingent of Manipur Rifles also gave guard of honour and the gun salute to the late king.
After offering floral tributes at the statues of Maharaj Gambhir Singh, Meidingu Narasingh and Sana Herachandra, the Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs offered tarpan at the pond located inside the memorial complex.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Maharaj Gambhir Singh Museum which would be built inside the memorial complex at the cost of around Rs 40 crore.
Before addressing the function, Chief Minister N Biren read out names of all the Ministers and MLAs who were present there.
Explaining his unusual act of reading out the names of Ministers and MLAs who were present there, N Biren said that it was a show of unity among the Ministers and MLAs who were elected during this critical situation and it would boost people’s confidence in the fact that “all of us are working with a sense of unity together with the people at all times”.
“On this historic day, we are paying our deepest respect and homage to Maharaj Gambhir Singh, Meidingu Narasingh, Sana Herachandra, all the soldiers and people of Manipur of that time for their heroic act of liberating Manipur from Burmese occupation”, Biren said.
Pointing out that the Treaty of Yandaboo recognised Manipur as an independent country, the Chief Minister stated that Maharaj Gambhir Singh, Meidingu Narasingh and Sana Herachandra occupy very important places in the history of Manipur.
Acknowledging their contributions, a museum would be constructed at their memorial complex.
“Even though our written history starts from 33 AD, our history is more than 3000 years old”, N Biren stated.
“But today we could not unite or support each other.  Rather, we tend to focus on mistakes and lapses and try to pull each other down. As a result, our sense of Nationalism remains scattered and unconsolidated”, he remarked.
“With a strong belief that respecting our ancestors, and remembering our forefathers can save our culture, traditions, our land and the Nation, a film on Chahi Taret Khuntakpa has been produced, and the film would be released today”, Biren continued.
He said that the old Langthabal Palace would be developed in consultation with the teachers and students of Manipur University at the cost of Rs 25 crore.
For rejuvenation of Chandranadi which is closely associated with the history of Manipur, an amount of Rs 10 crore would be incorporated in the budget, he said.
Announcing that concrete roads which would have a guarantee of 40 years would be constructed at Imphal, he appealed to all the people not to pose any hindrance or raise objections when Government’s vacant lands are affected by construction of concrete roads.
Saying that the structures built along the bank of Leishang Hiden give a shabby look to the highway, the Chief Minister declared that all the structures would be dismantled this evening.
All the 34 tribes recognised by the Government have been living together in peace with mutual respect since a long time back, but some people who have been conspiring to disintegrate Manipur since many years back engineered the current crisis.
“Castigating Biren without unification among ourselves would not be able to save Manipur. We need to unite, find out the mistakes or lapses and chart out a strategy collectively. We need to select a team who would talk with the estranged people who have been living together with all of us for a long time.
“At the same time, we need to identify newcomers  and determine whether they should be allowed to live in Manipur or not”, Biren said.
He also highlighted the growing need for analysing the birth ratios and fertility rates of Meiteis, Nagas and Meitei Pangals academically.
“None of us are enemies of Manipur. The enemies are those who have been conspiring to disintegrate Manipur, those conspiring to kill our youth by feeding them drugs and those people who facilitate incessant influx from outside with a sinister motive to reduce the  indigenous communities to the status of minorities. We need to know who our enemies are and who our friends area”, the Chief Minister stated.
Langthabal AC MLA Karam Shyam presided the function and Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Th Biswajit attended the function as guest of honour.
Biswajit said that today’s Manipur is a gift of those brave forefathers and it is the responsibility of the present generation to protect Manipur from all adversaries.