The National Identity Protection Council (NIPCO) observed its 26th Foundation Day at Lamyangba Shanglen, Palace Compound, today.
Speaking as the resource person, United People’s Front (UPF), Manipur adviser Laishangbam Jadumani said that our ancestors protected our land without seeking assistance from others and stressed the need for the present generation to shoulder the responsibility of protecting it.
He said the people should remember the idea of Manipur and continue to play the role of a “big brother” towards smaller communities. He also appealed to the people not to harbour a sense of revenge against smaller communities, while stressing the need to recognise and preserve the State’s long history.
Jadumani called for unity among the indigenous communities of Manipur and said the entire Kuki community should not be treated as an enemy. He maintained that outsiders and armed elements should be dealt with appropriately, while the indigenous communities should unite and live together as a nation.
On the prevailing conflict, he said the focus on internal contradictions among communities had diverted attention from what he described as the primary national contradiction. He stressed the need to understand the forces and circumstances that were driving communities against one another and resulting in loss of lives.
He also attributed the tensions among different communities in Manipur to what he described as the “divide and rule” policy of the Government of India. Jadumani urged the people to understand the situation and identify the factors that had actually triggered fighting and divisions among the communities.
He appealed to the people to work together towards restoring peace and finding a way forward for the future of the State.
NIPCO president Oinam Premjit, Dr Yumnam Premananda, Head of the Department of Law, Manipur University, COCOMI convenor and UCM president YK Dhiren, and NIPCO adviser Sunil Karam were among the presidium members.
Jadumani, adviser of the United People’s Front (UPF), Manipur, was the resource person at the programme.