Manipur Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya extended heartiest greetings to the people of the State on the occasion of Independence Day.
The Governor, in his message, said that India attained freedom on August 15, 1947 and the people of India have been celebrating this event every year as Independence Day.
He asserted that freedom was achieved from the colonial powers after a long freedom struggle by dint of the labour and hard work of millions of people.
Stating that their contribution and sacrifices need to be remembered on this day and acknowledged, he urged the present generation to strive tirelessly so that the hard won freedom continues to take us to greater well being of all citizens of the country.
‘As India has made rapid strides on various fronts in the past few decades, new challenges have arisen which impact the core of nationhood and there is, therefore, a need to strive even harder to overcome these challenges to ensure that India becomes a leader in the comity of nations’, the Governor said.
He called upon the people to renew the pledge to protect the hard earned freedom and also contribute for a better India where all are equal and no one goes hungry or gets victimised.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, also sent Independence Day greetings to the people of the state.
In his message, the Chief Minister said that the day is celebrated every year across the country with great pride and patriotism. The day reminds us of the selfless sacrifices made by our fore-fathers for snatching freedom from the clutches of colonial rule, he asserted.
He pointed out that India achieved freedom on the midnight of August 14, 1947 after a great many petitions and mass movements led by the visionary leaders of the time, and added that freedom has stood the test of time in the past more than 75 years of democracy and self-rule.
He maintained that the principles of sovereignty, socialism, secularism, justice, fraternity and equality continue to guide the people as we lift ourselves higher and higher above the shackles of poverty, underdevelopment, and narrow-minded confines.
‘Our state also contributed to the freedom struggle. Our hard-earned freedom and the ideals that we believe in, stand tested today for the first time in a manner and scale, which is arguably unprecedented’, CM Biren said.
He further said that divisive forces have been given space to hold sway over our population, through Instruments of threat and intimidation. He lamented that people have been made to believe that communities who have been living together for ages, can be divided at the will of a few vested interests.
He emphasised the significance of the day stating that it has become an occasion to remind the need to free ourselves of such evil forces. The Chief Minister called upon all to rise together, extend hands of peace and friendship and be willing to listen with patience as equally as the urge to speak, in the efforts towards restoration of normalcy.
He went on to say that the indigenous communities have shared a common living space for centuries, adding that it is therefore always possible to find common grounds where one can all agree. It is heartening that there are now expressions and voices, on issues of common concern and understanding, he stated.
The Chief Minister also extended gratitude to every person in the State who shares the concern of the need to adopt and accept a collective approach in finding ways to overcome the overwhelming sense of grief prevailing in the relief camps, and in families who are currently finding safety outside the State, in places which cannot be called home.
He also appealed to all to come together and extend cooperation in the efforts towards lasting peace and normalcy.
