Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday announced the establishment of a memorial park in honour of martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces from the state who laid down their lives fighting for the nation.
Addressing the observation of Vijay Diwas at the Banquet Hall of 1st Manipur Rifles in Imphal West, Biren said funds amounting to Rs 3 crore has been allocated for the construction of the memorial park. The park will be ready before the next Republic Day (2024), he said.
Vijay Diwas marks the Indian victory in the India-Pakistan War 1971 and the liberation of Bangladesh.
Recalling the stand of the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in the 1962 China Aggression towards the Northeast, he said, “India is today no longer a submissive country. India has become a strong nation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and cannot be taken lightly by any other country”.
He highlighted the immediate retaliation of the Indian forces during the recent Tawang and Kashmir aggression and the Thursday’s test-firing of the country’s Agni-V nuclear capable missile.
Reiterating the emphasis given to the Northeast region by the Central government under the leadership of Modi, he said Manipur being ranked the Best Improved Small State for three consecutive years is the result.
“We show nationalism through action and not by speech,” he said, adding that hundreds of finished projects in the state are in line for inauguration while hundreds are in the pipeline.
Taking the opportunity, Biren also apprised all the ministers, MLAs and officers to remain alert and in touch with their mobile phones as the working session has started.
Crediting all the state officials' efforts and public cooperation for tremendous development witnessed in the state during the last few years, he further sought the cooperation and support of the public to go through the present rhythm and head towards making Manipur a model state.
Talking about the integrity of Manipur, he said that the 35 ethnic groups settling in the state can never be separated. He appealed to all the ethnic groups to never work on a single community centric agenda but to instead work in a larger interest with a common goal for the communities by taking the government’s assent or approval before taking up any big activities.
The chief minister offered his homage to the martyrs who had sacrificed their lives fighting for the nation. The function was also attended by ministers, MLAs and other top-ranking officials of the state and paramilitary forces.
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