Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday assured that the government is ready to recognise any unsung heroes as martyrs, including tribal freedom fighters who fought against the British.
CM Biren was speaking during the One Day National Dialogue on Tribal heroes in India’s Freedom Struggle at the Centenary Hall of Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal West.
The programme was organised by the National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST) as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
He said before the coming of the BJP government, people across the country recognised only some of the freedom fighters, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh and some others.
However, with the coming of the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government started digging into the history of the freedom fighters, irrespective of caste and creed, including unsung heroes to explore at micro-level who fought during the free India movement against the British rule, he added.
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Pointing out that the Modi government inaugurating a ship under the name of Rani Gaidinliu as an example, CM Biren said that such freedom fighters had been neglected in most parts of the country, including in the Northeastern region.
The CM said some tried to distort the history of freedom fighters by neglecting those who took major roles during the freedom fighting movement.
Recalling some of the freedom fighters of Manipur, Biren said Chirai Naga was a tribal freedom fighter of Manipur and two Nagas, Choukami Naga and Gouho Naga were also sent to jail at Andaman Nicobar Island along with Maharaja Kulachandra for revolving against the then colonial rule.
There are some evil elements who want to distort the cooperation that had been among the various communities of Manipur since the British war, he added.
To show that every community in the country is equal in bringing a one India, Droupadi Murmu, who is a tribal, was elected as President of India, Biren said, adding that many people sacrificed their lives during the freedom movement, including from tribal communities.
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He said the death anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh is commemorated however, Kajao, who killed the political agent of the then British rule, Grimwood, is not remembered.
He appealed to the people to do research on freedom fighters as the government is ready to recognise them as martyrs.
Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, professor N Lokendra Singh; Joint Secretary (NCST) Konthang Touthang; Department of History, Tripura University professor Sukhendu Debbarma; Vaibhav Surange of Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, faculties and students of Manipur University also attended the programme among others.
