The 23rd Great June Uprising, Unity Day, was solemnly observed on Tuesday at Kekrupat in Imphal, with people paying heartfelt tribute to the courageous martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defense of Manipur's integrity on June 18, 2001.
This annual event, jointly organized by the United Committee Manipur (UCM) and the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), serves as a reminder of the state's enduring struggle to maintain unity and sovereignty.
The ceremony saw a diverse gathering of people from various ethnic backgrounds and walks of life, all united in their respect for the martyrs. Participants laid wreaths and offered prayers at the memorial site, reflecting a shared commitment to preserving the unity and integrity of Manipur.
The attendees remained resolute in their determination to counter any threats to the state's harmony.
A notable feature of the event was the blood donation camp organised by the Manipur Red Cross Society.
Registration for donors took place at the event site, while the actual blood donation was conducted at RIMS and JNIMS hospitals.
In anticipation of the ongoing unrest, state security personnel were deployed in and around the vicinity of Kekrupat to ensure the event proceeded without incident.
In his address to the media, UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam reiterated the people's unwavering stance on protecting Manipur's integrity. He warned that any attempt by the Indian government to disintegrate the state could lead to a more severe uprising, possibly reigniting demands for pre-merger status.
He emphasised the urgent need for implementing an NRC to prevent illegal immigrants from undermining the rights of indigenous people.
Joychandra also called for the abrogation of the SoO agreement with Kuki militants, accusing them of disrupting peace by attacking the Meitei community, engaging in drug trafficking, and encroaching on reserve forest areas.
He further criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to fulfill his promise to restore peace in Manipur, noting that violence had continued unabated, including the recent killing of an individual by Kuki militants in Jiribam and the burning of over 70 houses.
AMUCO president Ph Nando Luwang echoed these sentiments, describing the ongoing crisis in Manipur as instigated by external aggression rather than ethnic violence. He referenced Amit Shah's statement in Parliament attributing the conflict to external forces and questioned whether the central government would remain passive if a similar situation occurred in Kashmir.
He urged the central government to take decisive action to address the conflict in Manipur and stressed that high-level meetings should be informed by an accurate understanding of the ground realities and not be swayed by misinformation.
