CM delivers meaningful political point Manipur Sangai Fest kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 21 2016: The Manipur Sangai Festival 2016 kicked off today at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound here amidst much fanfare.

The opening ceremony held at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT) was graced by Governor Dr Najma Heptulla, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu and Chief Minister of Myanmar's Chin State U Salai Luai as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Dr Najma Heptulla, after declaring the Manipur Sangai Festival 2016 open, stated that the festival is a miniature representation of the rich art and culture and pristine beauty of Manipur.

Manipur Sangai Fest kicks off

She then hailed Manipur as a frontrunner among the North Eastern States with regard to preservation and promotion of art and culture, and tourism.

Confiding that she was much impressed by the beauty of Manipuri language, culture and tradition, the Governor stated that she would like to learn Manipuri language and participate in such a solemn function wearing Manipuri traditional dresses.

"Japan and Manipur share a very old connection and I told the wife of the Japanese Ambassador to India about the rich biodiversity of Manipur, particularly Loktak Lake and Sangai during a meeting yesterday", Dr Najma stated.

She also raised a proposal for Japanese assistance towards cleansing and preservation of Loktak Lake.

A bilateral agreement on cooperation in different sectors was signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the former's visit to Japan recently, Dr Najma continued.

"As the first citizen of the State, I would share due responsibility towards resolving all the issues and problems of the masses through dialogue", she continued.

She also appealed to all concerned to lift the ongoing economic blockade, start dialogue and celebrate the Sangai Festival collectively.

Before the festival was officially declared open, the dignitaries led by the Governor visited the festival's theme park, heritage park and other pavilions.

Different events like the 10th Manipur International Polo Tournament 2016, adventure and water sports, indigenous games and boat race would be held in the course of the festival which would be held till November 30 .

The festival would also feature Asian Theatre Festival as well as Shumang Leela Festival apart from staging Ratan Thiyam's Macbeth (Chorus Repertory Theatre) at the Shrine Play House for three days.

Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that promotion of Manipur as a popular international tourism destination is the main theme of the Manipur Sangai Festival which is named after the rare deer species Sangai, found only on the floating biomass (phumdis) of Loktak Lake and nowhere else across the world.

One unfortunate and shameful aspect of Manipur is too frequent bandhs and blockades which ring out negative messages about the State beyond its boundary, said the Chief Minister.

Such malicious conspiracy to create unrest and spread negative messages about Manipur will never be fruitful.

Many organisations have been churning out volumes and volumes of false propaganda.

While one camp has been espousing that Manipur should be independent, another camp has been propounding that State administration should be done on ethnic lines.

Such concepts and ideologies are not pragmatic and the general public are aware about it, Ibobi asserted.

The territory of Manipur is a gift of God and it does not belong to any particular community.

The Chief Minister then appealed to all concerned to stop building castles in the air and refrain from misleading the masses with the impractical promise to create an exclusive political domain for a single ethnic community.

It is the duty of every citizen to bring peace and development in the land.

Ibobi stated that the Government would work to construct tensile roof over BOAT before next year's edition of Manipur Sangai Festival.

A power point presentation was made about the State's power distribution system during the India-UK Tech Summit held recently, and the Prime Minister of UK went back with the Manipur model.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too announced that the Manipur model would be adoptable, Ibobi stated.

Chin State Chief Minister U Salai Luai stated that there were many similarities between Manipur and Chin State in terms of language and traditions apart from sharing territorial boundaries.

People of Chin State and Manipuri share a long history.

Even though they have been living in two different countries, they can never be separated.

Both the Chin State and Manipur State occupy a crucial position in the Government of India's Act East Policy.

While expressing keen desire to further improve the bilateral relationship shared between Chin State and Manipur, U Salai Luai invited delegates from Manipur to the Chin State's Winter Festival scheduled in October.

Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu stated that Japan's association with Manipur started since the Second World War.

"Japanese people always remember Imphal.

We came to Manipur to pray for the Japanese soldiers who died here and destruction suffered by the people of Manipur", he said.

He then exuded confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Japan would further consolidate Indo-Japanese relationship.