IT News
Imphal, April 17:
The Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF) today observed the 45th Realisation Day by paying floral tributes to Potshangbam Lukhoi and Huidrom Loken, two student martyrs who laid down their lives during the anti-foreigner movement in Manipur in the 1980s.
The solemn ceremony was held in honour of the two students, whose sacrifice is remembered annually on April 17. The movement, which initially began under the leadership of a student’s body, called for the detection, deletion, and deportation of foreigners from the state. One of the key moments of the agitation was the boycott of the HSLC examination, which marked a turning point in Manipur’s student-led political activism.
Leaders and invited speakers from student’s body, during the observance, highlighted the continued need for unity and vigilance in protecting the indigenous identity and rights of the people of Manipur.
The anti-foreigner movement was sparked by a demographic shift in the state following the 1950s, attributed to the lack of a robust regulatory mechanism to control the influx of outsiders. The Realisation Day serves as a reminder of this historic struggle and the enduring call to safeguard Manipur’s cultural and demographic integrity.
Even today, student bodies, civil society organizations, and various community groups continue to advocate for protective measures such as the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, to regulate migration and preserve the identity of the indigenous population.
