By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) Political Forum (PPF) observed its first foundation day anniversary on June 1, 2013 at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
The function was graced by President of All Manipur Bar Association Khaidem Mani, President of PPF A.R. Shah (Retd. Chief Engineer), President of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) Wangkhemcha Shamjai, President of United Committee, Manipur (UCM) Yumnam Nabachandra, President of All Manipur United Co-ordinating Committee (AMUCO) K.T. Rahman, President of Rose Mangshi Haokip, President of Tammi-Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup Momonleima Devi, Chief Advisor of PPF A.R. Khan (Retd. IAS), Working Presidents of PPF Azizul Haque Khan (Retd. Chief Engineer) and Salamat Sheikh as Chief Guest, President and Special Guests.
Spokes-person of PPF M.I. Khan giving the keynote address
Giving the keynote address, Spokes-person of PPF M.I. Khan said the Forum, since its inception last year, had addressed some of the critical issues of the Muslim community in the State.
He stated, “The forum had over the year organized numerous programmes and addressed some of the critical issues that the community. We had pressed the State Government to declare Muslim community as the most backward community considering their overall backwardness. The forum had also demanded the implementation of Inner Line Permit to check the influx of foreigners in the State. The forum will participate and extend full support to any agitation related to AFSPA and Inner Line Permit. We had also observed the foundation day of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre, the forerunner of Manipur University, last November and remembered former Chief Minister of Manipur Md. Alimuddin, who laid the foundation of the centre. Veteran politician O. Joy delivered a lecture on the occasion highlighting the memorable works done by Md. Alimuddin. The forum observed the 73rd Nupi Lal Numit last December and paid tributes to those Muslim women who took part in the historic women’s agitation against colonial forces in 1939. Last April the forum organized the 122nd Khongjom Day and paid tributes to those Muslims who took part in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891. The forum had also demanded the State Government to officially recognize the names of those Muslims who took part in the Nupi Lal and Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.”
“The forum had submitted a memorandum to the UN Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo during her recent visit to Manipur to take up remedial measures to check the increasing violence against women in the State.”
Khan further said, “To bring the Muslim community on the path of development the forum has worked out few proposals which will be submitted to the State Government for implementation. The proposals include: to establish a market complex exclusively for the Muslims, just like the tribal market, to economically empower the poor and unemployed Muslims; to streamline the Department of Minority and Other Backward Classes by checking the irregularities; to establish model higher secondary schools for Muslim girls in Imphal East and Thoubal district; to establish residential schools like Navodaya Vidyalaya in the large Muslim concentrated areas, among others.”
Felicitating meritorious Muslim students
“However, the most important demand of the forum is the nomination of a Manipuri Muslim as MP for Rajya Sabha. Since 1955 no one from the Muslim community has ever represented the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha. So in the coming 2014 election for the lone Rajya Sabha seat we want the ruling party to nominate a Muslim,” Khan added.
Addressing the gathering, President of UCM Y. Nabachandra stated that the gradual break-down of the bond of unity among the various communities of the State has threatened the integrity of Manipur. It is time that we bridge the divide between the hill and plain people, and uphold the unity and integrity of the State.
The programme came to a close with the distribution of certificates and gifts to meritorious Muslim students.