Pre-merger status demand reiterated
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 21 2022:
The Coalition for Indigenes' Rights Campaign (CIRCA) Manipur has reiterated the demand for pre-merger status of Manipur during the National Repentance Day observance held in remembrance of the day when the Dominion of India forced King Bodhchandra to sign the Merger Agreement on September 21, 1949.The observance was held at the premises of AIMS head office, Kwakeithel here with participation of leaders and representatives of different CSOs and student bodies.
CIRCA president Somorendro Thokchom, LKKL president Puyam Joy and KIMACS president Ningthoujam Pakpa attended the event as presidium members.
Speaking on the occasion, Somorendro recalled how Manipur remained as an independent kingdom for thou sands of years before the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and the subsequent merger into the Union of India.
He also recounted the series of events following the UN Declaration of 1945 against colonial rules and independence from the British rule on August 14, 1947 to the signing of merger agreement on September 21, 1949 and consequent annexation of Manipur by the Union of India.
CIRCA has been observing September 21 as National Repentance Day in order to remind the present and future generation how Manipur remained as an independent nation before its forcible merger into India, he said.
He said that after the merger, Manipur was kept as a Part C state and then as a union territory before granting statehood in 1972 following huge public movement.
He also recalled how draconian laws like AFSPA 1958 were imposed to exploit the people of the state, which resulted in thousands of incidents of human rights violation leaving thousands as victims of extra-judicial killing, many without their parents or sons and scores as victims of sexual assault by security forces.
He also spoke about forces and influences that are trying to disintegrate the state and create demand reiterated disunity among its different communities and unending plot to assimilate the Manipuris into the mainstream population of the country.
Taking into consideration of these issues, which threaten the unity, integrity, identity and survival of the Manipuris, CIRCA is bringing up the demand for restoration of pre-merger political status as per the Instrument of Accession signed between Dominion of India and Manipur on August 11, 1947, he added.