Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network) The state government, unlike the past years, observed the 127th birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose at the Indian National Army (INA) martyrs memorial complex at Moirang town in Bishupur district in a subdued fashion on Tuesday owing to the unceasing conflict besetting Manipur for the past over 8 months.
In the height of World War II, the INA/ ‘Azad Hind Fauz’ flag was unfurled on April 14, 1944 in for the first time at Moirang by Colonel Saukat Hayat Malik, commander of Bahadur Group before designating the area as its headquarters.
From this headquarters, top commanders of Japanese soldiers and their allies chalked out war tactics and operated to fight against the Allied forces.
L Sadhana Devi, curator of INA War Museum, a unit under Manipur art and culture department, said they observed the anniversary in low key affairs because of the conflict.
“As advised by our seniors, we did today’s programme in low key affairs with playing floral tribute to the statue of Netaji by locals of Moirang, particularly the members of the local INA advisory committee,” Sadhana said.
A leader of committee also stated that because of the volatite situation the anniversary celebrations passed off in a very simple way.
Moirang residents, last year, demanded that the tag of “war criminal” labeled with Netaji Subahsh by the United Nations and Commonwealth of Nations, be withdrawn.
