Chairman of The Great June Uprising, Unity Day committee Joychandra Konthoujam on Tuesday said that a huge team from outside the state, mostly Meiteis from Assam, Tripura, including the Meitei diaspora from Bangladesh will be taking part at the commemoration of the 21st The Great June Uprising, Unity day which will be held at Kekrupat, Imphal on June 18.
Joychandra was speaking to the Imphal Free Press on the sidelines of a cleanliness drive that has been going on in preparation with the observation at Kekrupat.
He said that the day is being observed annually to commemorate the 18 patriots who sacrificed their lives for the protection of the territorial integrity and boundary of Manipur in June 2001. Demands for a Kukiland or greater Nagaland should not be entertained if their demand is going to affect the territorial integrity of Manipur, said Joychandra.
Volunteers of Thangmeiband United Club, meira paibis, eRickshaw drivers took part on the first day of the cleanliness drive.
Joychandra said that any local club or organisations wishing to take part in the cleanliness drive are welcomed; however, they should prior inform the observation committee.
Vice chairman of the observation committee Pheiroijam Nando Luwang who is also president of All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO) told the Imphal Free Press that the observation has been continuing at Kekrupat since the 2001 incident.
During the past two years, the observation was carried out with minimal people due to the pandemic. For the forthcoming 21st The Great June Uprising, Unity day, a huge number of Meiteis from outside the state from Bangladesh, Assam, Tripura, Dimapur and even from Jiribam and Moreh, which are the two border towns of Manipur, will also be taking part, he added.
Nando said that the participants from other communities will also be taking part in the observation by extending their support in protecting the territorial integrity and boundary of Manipur. At present, 300 volunteers are set to take part in the voluntary blood donation during the observation.
He appealed to the people to take part in the observation and show the Central government that the people of Manipur are united in protecting its territorial boundary and integrity.
