Manipur: The 19th Great June Uprising Day observed

Manipur: The 19th Great June Uprising Day observed

          The 19th Great June Uprising Day was observed in Imphal and other places today with few selected people. The few selected people invited by the organisers came to Kekrupat and paid floral tributes to the 18 people who sacrificed their live for safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur in 18 June 2001. During the function, The President of UCM and chairman of the Observation Committee Sunil Karam said, “This time only family members of the 18 persons who laid down their lives were invited taking in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Also, we did not invite the titular king, LeishembaSanajaoba, as many sections have started boycotting him”. On June 14, 2001, the Union government signed the amended ceasefire agreement with the NSCN(IM), inserting the words “without territorial limits”. As it had serious implications, Manipur objected. On June 18, all sections of people came out on the streets. There were arson and protest at many places. The Assembly complex and offices of many political parties were partially burned down. Residences of certain Ministers, MPs, and the Chief Minister’s office were also damaged and singed. When indefinite curfew and deployment of Central forces in addition to State forces did not have the desired impact, the Union government eventually deleted the offending three words.