Newmai News Network IMPHAL | NOVEMBER 19 “Every citizen should make their contribution towards protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country and nothing is greater than the motherland,” Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh tosay said. He was speaking as the Chief guest at the Quami Ekta Week observance organised by the State Government at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles in Imphal. The Chief Minister then recalled former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s roles in maintaining the integrity of the country. He added that the whole country is still remembering her crucial decision of carrying out Operation Blue Star at Golden Temple in Amritsar to flush out armed militants. The Chief Minister then said that the NDA Government at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started giving due recognition and respect to unsung heroes of Indian freedom movement and other "unknown nationalists". In the State as well, the BJP-led Government had started observing Irabot Day at State level from this year onwards apart from taking a Cabinet decision to erect a statue of the great leader near Manipur Legislative Assembly complex. N Biren Singh then mentioned about State Government’s ongoing efforts to erect statues of Maharaja Gambhir Singh, Maharaja Nara Singh and Heerachandra, who took pivotal role in reclaiming Manipur from the hands of Burmese invaders during the time of Chahi Taret Khuntakpa (Seven Years Devastation) as well. Stating that one can never overlook history, the State Government had started conducting research to identify those heroes, who had actively worked with dedication in building up the present day Manipur and keeping the integrity of the State intact. Expressing serious concern over low attendance of high ranking Government officials in today’s observance, the Chief Minister asked the authority concerned to do the needful to avoid such instance in other important State level functions. Stating that nothing can be achieved without discipline, the Chief Minister said that ministers and high ranking administrators especially civil servants should not only discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and commitment but also try to do exemplary works during their service tenure. “Elected leaders and administrators should be the role models for common people,” he observed. Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar Singh, who attended as functional president, remembered the contribution of Indira Gandhi to the cause of national integration. He also recalled the former Prime Minister’s role in defending threats of Chinese aggression in the North East with her unstinting support to the liberation of Bangladesh. Later, the Chief Minister administered the National Integration Pledge to the gathering.