TAMENGLONG, Dec 14 NNN : Expressing strong objection to the Manipur government for using the celebration of “Orange Festival” as a platform only to gain political mileage without actually recognizing the hard toil of growers and fulfilled the intended purpose of celebrating the festival for the last many years since its starting of organizing the festival, the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU) and Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur (ZSUM) appeal the general public to abstain this year celebration.
“The Manipur government has transformed the festival into a platform for propagating communal and anti-Naga campaigns with venomous language and suppressive measures by displaying military might towards the peace loving people. The atmosphere is vitiated whenever the State government started preparation of the programme for the celebration of the orange festival. People of only confused mind may participate this year orange festival where Mr. O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, will display his oratory skills,” the ZYF,AZSU and ZSUM said.
The State government sponsored orange festival has never provided benefits instead the celebration has reduced the dignity of the growers in particular and Zeliangrong people as a whole by projecting to the outside world that Zeliangrongs are festival loving people.
“There is depletion of orange production in Tamenglong district which is once considered to be the land of orange since the celebration of orange festival. This is really a serious matter to ponder at this point of time why the State government despite of all tall previous promises announced every time orange festival is celebrated to provide assistance to orange growers fail to materialize. The State goverment is only fooling the Zeliangrong people on the pretext of orange festival celebration,” the three organisations expressed further.
They then said the fruit orange is a natural gift of God particularly for Tamenglong district to tell the world that this fruit is abundantly found there but this gift is misused by the State government sponsored celebration.
“Therefore, it is appealed to general public to response with responsibility and utmost reasoning that Zeliangrong people cannot be fooled always,” the three Zeliangrong organisations said.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/politics-free-orange-festival/
