Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 19 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that every citizen should make their contribution towards protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country and stated that nothing is greater than the motherland.
Speaking as at the “Quami Ekta Week” observance organised by the state government at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles on Monday, Singh recalled former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi’s roles in maintaining the integrity of the country. He opined that the whole country is still remembering her crucial decision of carrying out Operation Blue Star at Golden Temple in Amritsar to flush out armed militants.
The chief minister said that the NDA government at the Centre has started giving due recognition and respect to unsung heroes of Indian freedom movement and other unknown nationalists. The state government had started observing Irabot Day at state-level from this year onwards apart from taking a Cabinet decision to erect a statue of the great leader near Manipur Legislative Assembly complex, he added.
He also mentioned about state government’s ongoing efforts to erect statues of Maharaja Gambhir Singh, Maharaja Nara Singh and Heerachandra, who took pivotal role in reclaiming Manipur from the hands of Burmese invaders during the time of Chahi Taret Khuntakpa (Seven Years Devastation), as well.
Stating that one can never overlook history, the state government had started conducting research to identify those unsung heroes, who had actively worked with dedication in building up the present day Manipur and keeping the integrity of the State intact.
Expressing serious concern over low attendance of high ranking government officials at present, the chief minister asked the authority concerned to do the needful to avoid such instance in other important state level functions.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar Singh, who also attended the functional, recalled the contribution of Indira Gandhi to the cause of national integration. He also recalled the former Prime Minister’s role in defending threats of Chinese aggression in the Northeast with her unstinting support to the liberation of Bangladesh.
Later, the chief minister administered the national integration pledge to the gathering. Cabinet ministers, MLAs and top civil and police officials also attended the function among others.
