Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre
New Delhi, November 06:
"We know that Unity and Diversity are seen as opposite to each other.
In order to reconcile Unity and Diversity, our thought process has to be changed.
In the new thought process, Diversity need not necessarily and essentially be detrimental to Unity.
Diversity should be accepted, recognized and accommodated," Dr Thokchom Meinya, Member of Parliament (Inner Manipur) has said while speaking in the Work Session 1: 'Can Unity and Diversity be reconciled' of the 4th International Conference on Federalism at Vigyan Bhavan here in the prelunch session today.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar chaired the session and Vice President of the Forum of Federations Celine Auctair from Canada was moderator.
Dr Thokchom Meinya representing India as one of the Case Presenters of the session said that many Indian States were suffering today, as it was difficult to practice the above thought process.
Referring to Manipur State, he stated that Manipur is itself a mini India having 33 ethnic groups, professing a number of religions, different caste and creed, a number of dialects and languages and various communities.
There exist a number of major divisions of identity along class, linguistic, ethnic, religious and other lines.
In their long history of more than 2000 years of Nationhood, Manipur could manage and maintain perfectly the unique tradition of Unity in Diversity.
He pointed out, " Now, after more than a half century of the merger of Manipur into the Union of India, separatist movements are on in the State.
That means inability to reconcile between Unity and Diversity led to separatist movements." He made the conclusion that it was the high time to put into practice the thought process cited above by the Governments namely the Union Government and the State Government.
Then perhaps the problems faced by the States of North East India particularly Manipur would no longer continue to exist, he added.
Other Case Presenters in the Session were Deise Josiane Martin, Advisor, Government of Sao Paolo from Brazil, Gopal Sriram, Judge, Federal Court of Malaysia from Malaysia, Nichlas Haysom, Director for Political Affairs, Office of the UN SecretaryGeneral from South Africa, Kanimozhi, MP, Rishang Keishing, MP, S.C.Jamir, Governor of Goa and Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, Member of Planning Commission all from India.
A Sukumar Singh, Secretary (Law), Government of Manipur was among the 40 registered participants of the session.