Merger pact unacceptable, says NRFM; calls bandh on Sep 21
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 19 2021: Denouncing India's annexation of Manipur through the 'Manipur Merger Agreement' signed on September 21, 1949; National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) has announced imposition of a 24-hour bandh on September 21 .

The bandh, however, will not cover medical, electricity and water supply and media, NRFM information & publicity department informed in a statement.

According to the NRFM statement, people of Manipur suffered the heaviest defeat on September 21, 1949 and will continue to remain as slave of India as long as the day (September 21) is taken lightly.

However, people of the 'land should not remain idle by forgetting the biggest deception India has done to Manipur, the statement said, adding that the merger agreement is unacceptable and the outfit will continue to wage freedom movement till regaining lost sovereignty of Manipur.

The NRFM statement further said India should have the courage and strength to reverse the wrong step it took on September 21, 1949 and own up the responsibility for consequences of the agreement.

Recalling how India annexed Manipur through the merger agreement, the NRFM statement said that India pre-planned everything to secure a written statement to forcefully merge Manipur.

The then Dewan of Manipur intervened in the affairs of the administration and even incited and hired some leaders of Indian Congress idolised in India to raise voice in favour of merger with India.

The Dewan acted against the understanding reached between the then governments of Manipur and India.

As the then king Bodhchandra was compelled to visit Shillong to meet Assam Governor Prakash due to Dewan's intervention in the administrative affairs of Manipur, India took the opportune moment to ink the Manipur Merger Agreement.

Bodhchandra was put under house arrest for three days and forced to sign the agreement on September 21, 1949 under duress though he had no power to sign such agreement without the approval of the then Manipur state council.

The agreement was then kept secret and officially made public on October 15, 1949 only after India made all military preparedness to deal with any eventuality.

Since then, Indian army continues to remain in Manipur till date, the'outfit said and offered to Jay down arms if India is able to prove wrong that Manipur and India are not two different nations.

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