Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey hosted the Statehood Day celebration of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Sunday.
The three Northeastern states attained statehood on January 21, 1972, with the introduction of North-East Area (Re-organisation) Act 1971, stated a release from the Raj Bhavan. The statehood day of Uttar Pradesh which falls on Wednesday (January 24) and that of Dadra and Nagar Haveli which falls on Friday (January 26) was also celebrated on the occasion, it stated.
Gracing the event, Governor Anusuiya Uikey said that Manipur has been going through difficult times for over eight months, it said. She assured that the Central and state governments are making continuous efforts through civil and social organizations to resolve the problem through dialogue in a cordial environment for restoration of peace and normalcy, it asserted.
She appealed to the people to sit together and solve the problem through discussion and dialogue, it added. She continued that prosperity of the state and welfare of citizens are linked to the progress of the country and urged all to resolve to protect the integrity and unity of the country, it stated.
Uikey wished the people of Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Dadra Nagar Haveli a bright future, long life, good health and happiness, prosperity and progress of the state, it mentioned. The country has celebrated the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence with the imagination and inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said. She pointed out that under the concept of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, all the states of the country are celebrating the foundation days of each other’s states, the release said.
The Governor said, ‘On this day, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were established with the hope and belief that these states would provide all-round development to their citizens in terms of natural resources and administrative facilities in their respective areas’. She claimed that all the states are now moving on the path of progress with their own diversity and characteristics, it asserted.
She highlighted the purpose of celebrating foundation day and said it is to introduce the youth and citizens of each other’s states to their art, culture, music, dance, festivals, language, costumes, traditions, tourist places as through such events, youth become familiar with the culture of the country and states and their all-round development takes place, it maintained.
The country is currently at a turning point and has the potential to shape the new world economy, she said, adding that it is the responsibility of all to make India a developed nation with integrity, transparency, hard work, honesty and fairness, it mentioned.
Students of Central Agricultural University, Tripura and Meghalaya Campus, RIMS and artists of JN Dance Academy, Imphal showcased cultural performances at the event, it stated.
Commissioner (Art & Culture), M Joy Singh, Commissioner Education (S), Gyan Prakash, vice chancellors of Manipur University, DM University, Manipur Technical University, Manipur University of Culture and Central Agricultural University, Imphal, padma awardees, arjuna awardees, women journalists of Manipur, students and youths from Meghalaya and Tripura participated in the ceremony, it added.