N Biren Singh releasing a souvenir during the diamond
jubilee-cum-8th biennial sports meet of the All Maring Sports Association in
Tengnoupal, on Monday.
IMPHAL — Manipur
Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday underscored the need for all the
indigenous communities residing in the state to live together peacefully and
maintaining understanding with each other.
"We should remember how our forefathers safeguarded our
motherland together from external forces," the chief minister said.
Singh was addressing the inaugural programme of the diamond
jubilee-cum-8th biennial sports meet of the All Maring Sports Association
(AMSA) held on the theme ‘Legacy of yesterday, champion of tomorrow’ at the
AMSA Sports Complex, Laiching Kangshang in Tengnoupal district.
On the ongoing crisis in the state, he maintained that the
state government is not against any community but only concerned about illegal
migrants and mushrooming of many unrecognised villages in border areas.
Stressing the need for major communities to support
minorities for overall development of the state, he appealed to the public to
work together in restoring peace and normalcy and to take the state towards
faster pace of development.
Singh also said that different indigenous communities have
been living together, safeguarding the land since time immemorial. He recalled
that the poison put on the tip of the Arambai weapon, used while driving out
the Burmese (Awa) during the Seven Years Devastation Period, were provided by
the Maring community. All such stories could be heard in folktales, he added.
He noted that many youths in Manipur, frustrated due to
unemployment, can be seen attracted towards drugs; as such, the war on drugs
campaign was started to save the youths, who are foundations of the future
generations.
Referring to the memorandum submitted to him, the chief
minister announced a INR 2.5 crore worth sports complex with indoor gym at the
function venue.
He further informed that the government would consider
opening a branch of the employment exchange office at Machi sub-division.
Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai, who also spoke on
the occasion, praised the courage and bravery of the Maring community, and also
commended the interest shown by the youth of the Maring community in games and
sports.
