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Imphal, Dec 25 (IANS) Christmas was celebrated with great gusto and merriment in Manipur Tuesday as authorities lifted the curfew in the four valley districts of the state. "Christmas celebrations passed off peacefully and there was absolutely no report of any untoward incident," Manipur Chief Secretary D.S.Poonia told IANS. Thousands flocked to churches to pray for peace, tolerance and respect. In his Christmas message, Archbishop of Imphal diocese Dominic Lumon said: ""All of us, old or young, can learn to value the people that surround us, respect their different points of view and learn that great peace and happiness comes from giving of our time to others." Christmas celebrations were subdued in the state capital due to the indefinite strike called by the Manipur Film Forum (MFF) and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council (MSSLC) to demand the arrest of a Naga rebel for sexually assaulting a Manipuri film actress. However, MFF and MSSLC suspended its strike from midnight Dec 23 to ensure that people, especially in the state capital, could celebrate Christmas. Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat said: "Christmas, celebrated as the birthday of Lord Jesus, has now become a festival which is observed cutting across religion, caste and creed and is now a unifying event." "Christmas is a time of great joy, cheer, hope and happiness. It reminds all of us of the profound message of Lord Jesus Christ to promote peace, unity and harmony in society and amongst one another," Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said. The MFF and MSSLC have threatened to resume its general strike from midnight of Dec 26 till the arrest of Naga rebel Livingstone, who allegedly molested the actress at Chandel district, bordering Myanmar Dec 18. He had also fired at two artists who tried to rescue the actress but the bullets missed them.
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