Imphal (DIPR): Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that the Indian Army is the protector and they have put everything behind including their families to protect and serve the country, and it is the responsibility of the people to show them respect, honour and to support them.
The Chief Minister was speaking as the Chief Guest at the Mega Ex-servicemen Rally, Koirengei held on Monday.
Stressing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Nation First’ message, the Chief Minister said that each citizen should understand that we are safe when the country is safe and so we must always think of the nation first.
An all-girl Sainik School will be opened soon in the State at Bishnupur district, Biren said, acknowledging Manipuri women’s power, sacrificing spirit, commitment and conviction.
Further recounting the sacrifices and contribution of the Army personnel from the State including Major Jotin’s sacrifice in Afghanistan and Major Bob Khathing’s contribution in nation building, the Chief Minister said that the State Government has earmarked Rs. 3 crore to set up a Martyrs’ Memorial at the ex-servicemen office complex so that people can show their respect and pay homage to the martyrs every year.
Biren Singh also thanked Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for giving approval to the conduct of Agniveer Recruitment Rally in Manipur. He also said that the State Cabinet has also approved to give priority to Agniveers during government job recruitment on their retirement.
Speaking of the changing times in the State, the Chief Minister said today the relation between the people and security forces has improved tremendously and there is harmony.
Brig Neil John, SM, Dy GOC, 57 Mtn Div said that Manipur, a vibrant region with a rich culture of 2000 years has historically been a land of valour and sacrifice. The contribution of the brave sons and daughters of Manipur in nation-building and the Indian Army is unparalleled and second to none, he said.
The event was also participated by Lt Gen LN Singh, VSM* (Retd), serving and retired senior officers, Veer Nari’s and ESM among others. As part of the event, the Chief Minister felicitated the Veer Naris, veterans, widows and families.
Earlier Chief Minister Biren flagged off an exposure visit of youth from the State to Punjab under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Yuva Sangam from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. The tour will conclude on March 12.
Speaking on the sidelines of the flagging off ceremony, the Chief Minister said that the exposure visit is an initiative under the far-sighted vision of the Prime Minister’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) to strengthen people to people connect and bridge the communication gap between people of the region and other parts of the country.
The team will visit Punjab and a team from Punjab will visit the State in order to encourage interaction between the youth to Make India One, he conveyed.
The Chief Minister further extended his best wishes to the team which includes 30 students and three teachers. The 30 students are from different institutes from across the State and are being led by the three teachers.
The tour is organised by the paired universities of Manipur University and Central University, Punjab. Earlier, another team of students led by the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) – Manipur had visited Nagpur in Maharashtra and a team of students from Nagpur had visited Manipur under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Yuva Sangam.
