President appeals to Manipur youth to work for brighter future

Correspondent
IMPHAL, April 29

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] midst the boycott call by armed groups, President of India Pranab Mukherjee air dashed here along his Rashtrapati Bhavan staff in a special aircraft of Indian Air Force on Tuesday afternoon to attend 14th Convocation of Manipur Central University at Canchipur near Imphal.
On his arrival at the Tulihal airport near here, President was received by the state Governor VK Duggal. Later they drove straight varsity campus along the deserted Imphal roads to reach centenary hall of the University campus around 3.20pm.
The entire stretch of the route from airport to Canchipur University campus was well guarded by the armed and unarmed security personnel to prevent any unwanted incidents during the President’s movement.President Mukherjee was the chief guest of the 14th Convocation of Manipur University while Governor VK Duggal and Chancellor of Manipur University Prof Dilip M Nachane attended as Guests of Honour.Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam,Public Health Engineering Minister I Hemochandra,Agriculture Minister Md Nasir,Parliamentary secretary Victor Keishing and some ruling and opposition MLAs besides university teachers and staffs also attended the convocation wherein former Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and popular musicologist Laishram Birendrakumar were honoured with doctorate in law and literature respectively by handing over scrolls. Besides many students of the university were also honoured.
Expressing that violence only aggravates the situation, President Mukherjee addressing the convocation, appealed to the Manipuri youth to join hands with the youth of the rest of the world for a brighter future. “I invite you to join the onward (development) march leaving behind the violent and conflict,” says the President while congratulating the people of the state for the peaceful conduct of the Lok Sabha election recently.
He also announced that the revival of the Manipur University students union from the next academic session for the welfare of the varsity. It may be mentioned here that the MUSU was dissolved in 2009.Besides Rishang Keishing and Laishram Birendrakumar, Manipur governor Duggal, Chancellor of the MU Prof Dilip M Nachane also spoke on the occasion. Later president after inspecting an exhibition by innovators of the state at the open air theatre of the centenary hall of the MU,drove back to airport to fly back to the National capital.
It may be mentioned that the day’s general strike which concluded at 6 pm was called by the Coordination Committee(CorCom) of armed groups Kangleipak Communist Party,Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup,People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Pro),Revolutionary People’s Front and United National Liberation Front to object the President’s visit to Manipur.

Normal Life
affected due
to strike

The normal life has been severely affected in Manipur due to a dawn-to-dusk general strike by CorCom to object the President’s visit to Manipur on Tuesday. However Medical services, religious functions, media, water supply, electricity and fire service were exempted from the purview of the general strike. The general strike was also supported by the United Revolutionary Front. The busy Imphal town wore a desolate look since early morning till the end of the strike. All educational institutions,business establishments including banks and busy Ima market in the heart of Imphal town remained closed during the general strike.
The inter-State and inter-district passenger bus/taxi services and city auto services were also affected by the strike. However, there is no report fo any untoward incident during the course of the strike which did not affect the normal air traffic.
Science festival in Manipur: Manipur Science & Technology Council, Imphal will be organizing a 5 day State Level Science Festival under the banner of Science Meet 2014 from May 11-15 at Manipur Science Aquarium DM College Campus.
In a press hand out which was made available here stated that the theme of the meet will be “Fostering Scientific Temper”. The main feature of the programme will be Science Model Exhibition- cum- Competition, Spot Painting Competition, Declamation Contest, Science Quiz Competition, Science Short Play Competition, Best Guide Teacher Award, Best Appreciation Award, Science Drama, Science Film Show, Science Behind Miracle Show, Puppet Show, Book Exhibition etc,the hand out added.