UPRFM boycotts R-Day, calls general strike on Jan 26
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 22 2023:
Boycotting India's Republic Celebration in Manipur (Kangleipak), the armed United People's Revolutionary Front of Manipur (UPRFM) has imposed general strike effective from midnight of January 25 to 6pm of January 26 .
The general strike, however, will not cover movements relating to emergency services and religious ceremonies, a UPRFM statement issued by its information & publicity secretary L Rolin alias Thoupangba Meitei said.
According to the UPRFM, the people of Kangleipak have no reason to celebrate India's Republic Day as it is unrelated with history and people of Kangleipak at all.
Kangleipak had its own written constitution from 1947 and democratically elected government from 1948 before India had their own constitution and elected government.
However, Kangleipak and many other princely states lost their sovereignty after India forcibly merged them in violation of international laws, the outfit said while reiterating that there is no reason for the Kanglei people to be a part of India's Republic Day celebrations.
It also said that the Indian Constitution does not have any specific provision for the people of WESEA region as it was adopted mainly for mainland Indians and in their interest.