Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan arrived in Manipur today as part of his four-day tour of the Northeastern states, receiving a warm reception from the State government before proceeding to the historic INA Martyrs’ Memorial Complex and INA Museum at Moirang in Bishnupur district.
Radhakrishnan arrived at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal, at around 10.30 am from Guwahati. He was received by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, ministers, legislators and senior civil and police officials.
An Indian Reserve Battalion contingent accorded the Vice-President a Guard of Honour at the airport. The Vice-President’s Office later shared photographs of his arrival, showing him being received by the Governor, Chief Minister and other dignitaries.
Soon after the reception, Radhakrishnan proceeded to Moirang, around 45 km south of Imphal, to visit the historic INA Martyrs’ Memorial Complex, a site closely associated with the Indian National Army and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
At the memorial complex, the Vice-President paid tribute to the valour and sacrifice of INA personnel and visited the INA War Memorial Stupa. He also paid floral tribute to the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose before visiting the INA Museum, which preserves the history and legacy of the INA’s campaign in the region.
Moirang holds a special place in the history of India’s freedom struggle. It was here that the INA, under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, hoisted the Tricolour on Indian soil on April 14, 1944, during the Second World War.
Radhakrishnan was accompanied during his visit to Moirang by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Art and Culture Minister Khuraijam Loken and MLA Th. Shanti.
The Vice-President is scheduled to visit Sainik School Imphal at Pangei in Imphal East district during his one-day stay in Manipur. He is expected to participate in cultural and public engagements there.
The State government has made elaborate security arrangements for the Vice-President’s visit, with security strengthened along his route and at all scheduled venues. Traffic arrangements have also been modified in and around Moirang in view of the high-level visit.
The Manipur leg is part of Radhakrishnan’s ongoing four-day tour of the Northeast. Before arriving in Manipur, he was in Assam and Meghalaya, where he attended several academic, cultural and public programmes.
His visit to Manipur is scheduled to conclude later today, following which he will proceed to Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, the final destination of his Northeast tour. In Itanagar, he is scheduled to attend a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly and visit the Assembly Gallery-cum-Museum.
