Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 19 2010:
Due to non-issue of Protected Area Permit (PAP), Manipuris in Bangladesh will not be able to join the inaugural function of year long platinum jubilee celebration of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Imphal, one of the oldest bodies in the field in the North Eastern Region of the Country to be began from November 21 here in Imphal.
The Manipuri Sahitya Parishad is on hectic effort to hold the inaugural function of the platinum jubilee of the parishad to mark 57 years of its existence starting from November 21 till 26 next.
The non-issue of PAP to the Manipuris in Bangladesh who have been invited to attend the grand function will diminish the spirit of the celebration, a spokesperson of the parishad told Hueiyen Lanpao.
He said that due to the non-issue of PAP required by a foreigner entering Manipur by the Union ministry of home affairs, Bangladesh Manipuris who are scheduled to arrive tomorrow will not come.
They are in the position of not enabling to attend the function, he added.
Among others, Manipuri writers who are about to attend the inaugural function are Anandkumar Seram, Rabi Kiran Singh and noted artiste Longjam Santo and Rajkumari Amusana included.
For Anandkumar who is the president of the Bangladesh Manipuri Sanga, the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad is arranging for honouring him, the spokesperson said.
As Manipuris residence of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar are needed to obtain PAP from the Union ministry of home affairs, they had applied on time to the authority concerned.
State joint secretary home also wrote to the MHA for issuing the PAP to the Bangladeshi Manipuris on November 3 last.
But no positive response receives so far.
As they are yet to get the PAP, the Manipuris who had started their journey to Imphal are stranded at Tripura's capital Agartala till date, the spokesperson informed.
The attitude of the Central government hurt the sentiment of the Manipuris settling outside the country in visiting their originating place, he observed.