Jiribam accords warm welcome to BCIM car rally

JIRIBAM, February 26: The historic Bangladesh China India Myanmar (BCIM) car rally was flagged off from from Circuit House at Silchar enroute to Jiribam by Bidut Brodoloi, Power Minister of Assam along with Ajit Singh Excise & Sports Minister, Assam and Susmita Dev,  MLA Silchar constituency today at 7 am.

The rally reached Jiribam at 9 am to a warm welcome from students and several civil society representatives and government employees.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner Y Iboyaima Singh received the guests at the Border Bridge of Assam and Manipur.

During an interaction with Bangladeshi journalists, the Addl DC said that the car rally will help in forging better opportunities of trade and commerce amongst the countries and cooperation amongst the participants from different countries.

He had further said that it will go many miles to strengthen the partnerships and be a stepping stone to vast source of opportunities.

It will further usher in a better relationship between India and the other countries which is the sole essence of the “Look East Policy and Vision 2020”, he emphasized further.

The rally, sponsored by the Tata Motors, ONGC and Autocar and supported by the governments of the four participating countries, comprised of 20 sedan cars with approximately 80 participants.

The event is being organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with several government departments, agencies and industrial houses.

Tight security measures had been placed along the route for the smooth conduct of the rally.

Nonetheless, certain Kuki State Demand Committee bandh supporters are alleged to have removed the plates of a bailey bridge at Leingangpokpi area. However, the Jiribam police in the absence of the BRO had to replace the plates in time for the cars to pass by.

Meanwhile, several KSDC supporters had also tried to held up “BCIM car rally boycott” banners which was thwarted by the police by tearing off the banners and issuing a stern warning that it will take serious actions against any perpetrators trying to disrupt the car rally.

A huge contingent of state police, Manipur Rifles and Assam Rifles personnel was present near all Kuki villages along the route. However, there were no untoward incidents during the Jiribam stretch of the rally and a large number of the public turned out to witness the car rally in Jiribam.