CIRCA observes National Repentance Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 21 2019: Remembering the Merger Agreement of 1949, the Coalition for Indigenes Rights Campaign (CIRCA) organised National Repentance Day at Nambol Khoriphaba Haraobung today.

The event was attended by CIRCA Manipur president Thokchom Somorendro, Royal Academy of Law Principal Irengbam Jugeshor, NEFIP president Ningthouja Lancha and Manipur Wetlands Development Authority Chairman Dr Khangembam Samungou as the presidium members.

Speaking at the event, Ningthouja Lancha said that it would be wrong to presume that today's event was organised with an anti-India mentality.

CIRCA observes National Repentance Day

The event was organised as a way for all, including the Indian Government and the State Government to reminisce and consider the wrongs done in the past, he said.

This event is an opportunity for everyone to analyse and study the unfortunate events that unfolded between August 14, 1947 and September 21, 1949 .

On this day, in 1949, the king of Manipur was called to Shillong and forced to sign an agreement whereby Manipur was merged into India.

As a result of the merger, Manipur is in a sort of conflict with India till date which is evidenced by the insurgency in the State, he said, adding that over and above this issue, there are also various issues plaguing the State now due to the merger, like the impact to the State's land/boundaries, influx of non-indigenous people, imposition of AFSPA 1958 and lack of unity among the various communities.

Ningthouja Lancha continued that Article 370 was recently scrapped from Jammu and Kashmir thus robbing it off its rights and status.

However, Manipur lost all of that in the past when it merged with India, he claimed.

On the other hand, Nagaland is now on the road to get benefits/new status with the signing of the Framework Agreement.

He then asked as to why benefits and status, even if not exactly as per those mentioned in the Instrument of Accession, be given to Manipur.

Lancha further questioned if it is not a right thing to do for the Indian Government to apologise to the people of Manipur for all the wrongs it (India) committed and provide a similar solution to Manipur as is being done in the case of Naga people.

He continued that after Manipur merged into India, then Chief Commissioner Himmat Singh revoked the system to regulate entry of non-indigenous people into Manipur on November 18, 1950 .

Since then, the State has been burdened with the incessant influx of people from outside.

Over and above, the State is now facing problems of influx of people from other countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal etc, he added.

Today's event has been organised with the belief that if Manipur had the chance or the slightest opportunity to get back all its past status and benefits it had before September 21, 1949 (except External Affairs, Defence and Communication) then the problem of insurgency, boundary issues, influx of non-locals etc can be averted, Lancha explained.

During the event, winners of the open debate competition organised by CIRCA at Imphal College under the theme 'Pre-Merger Political Status Ta Hanjillaba Matamda Manipur Amasung India Anigi Muknaba Wakheiba Ngamgani', were felicitated as well.