UPRFM calls for total shutdown on R-Day
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 22 2022: Boycotting the 73rd Republic Day celebration of India, United People's Revolutionary Front of Manipur (UPRFM) has imposed a total shutdown on January 26.In a statement released by its Information and Publicity secretary Rolin alias Thoupang-ba Meitei on Saturday, UPRFM said that the 73rd Republic Day celebration of India has no relation whatsoever with Manipur, its history and people.

Under the shroud of AFSPA 1958 and other black laws, the Indian army has been committing atrocities upon the people.

As such, UPRFM will impose a state-wide total shutdown for 17 hours from the midnight of January 25.The outfit further said that India has been giving wrong meaning of the democracy and republic, when it had forcefully annexed many princely states against their will and continuing to propagate its oppressive policies.

Kangleipak (Manipur) which already had a democratic government and formed the "The Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947", held the first session of Manipur Legislative Assembly on October 18, 1948.However, the then king Bodh-chandra was coerced to sign the merger agreement and the once independent, sovereign kingdom was forcefully annexed to India on September 21, 1949.It continued: "The then Manipur Assembly rejected the agreement, after which a resolution was adopted during its 3rd session of the 4th sitting on September 28, 1849 and a gazette order of the same was notified on October 14.The next day, it was announced that Manipur was merged to India and the kingdom lost its independence thereon.

"As Kangleipak (Manipur) was robbed off its independence forcefully, people should not partake in India's Republic Day celebrations.

The people of WESEA are now living under the draconian Constitution of India and slowly being deprived of their identity, culture, territory and existence.

Furthermore, the history of India shows various facets of nationalist characteristics, which prevented formation of provisions, meant to safeguard the interests of people of Kangleipak then and even now.

"While India continues to don the mask of democracy and republic, it would be best for the people of WESEA not to attend the celebration done under strict security cordon by certain groups of people who are now standing against Kangleipak," it contended.

Announcing a total shutdown for 17 hours in the state on January 26, UPRFM urged the people of the state to cease work for the day and stay inside their homes as a form of protest against the illegal occupation of the independent kingdom.

The proscribed outfit, however, informed that the movement of emergency services, religious activities and media would be relaxed during the total shutdown.

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