NRFM gives strike call on Jan 26
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 22 2023:
Boycotting India's Republic Day celebrations in Manipur, the armed National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) has called a general strike from midnight of January 25 to 6 pm of January 26 .
The general strike, however, will be exempted for religious ceremonies, medical, media and fire service, NRFM announced in a statement issued by its Central Executive Committee.
According to the NRFM statement, Manipur had its own Constitution after regaining freedom from the British and then conducted first adult franchise.
After 53 law makers were elected, the first assembly (parliament) session was held on October 18, 1948 with council of ministers and cabinet.
However, India forcibly merged Manipur on October 15, 1949.This led to emergence of armed movement and started attacking Indian forces with guerrilla warfare from 1978 .
From 1980, the draconian AFSPA was imposed in the entire Manipur and state terrorism activities continue unabated since then, the outfit said, adding that there will be no democracy in Manipur as long as AFSPA continues in the land.
Instead of celebrating Republic Day of India, the Kanglei people should rather celebrate Independence Day by regaining the sovereignty snatched by India in 1949, the outfit said, and strongly called for standing against India unitedly.