CIRCA repeats pre-merger status demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 18 2022:
The Coalition for Indigenes' Rights Campaign (CIRCA), Manipur observed Manipur National Day, recalling the day Manipur established its first democratically elected Government after enacting Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 on October 18, 1948 at Biramangol College, today.
In a statement, CIRCA said that programme was graced by retired Assistant Registrar of Manipur University, Dr Oinam Kullabidhu; CIRCA president Somorendro Thokchom; WASDEV president RK Tharaksana and IKAL general secretary Wahengbam Luwangleima as presidium members.
On the occasion, Somorendro Thokchom said the erstwhile kingdom of Kangleipak stayed as a protectorate State of the British for a few decades after the defeat in the Anglo Manipur War of 1891 .
Saying that Manipur attained independence from the British on August 14, 1947, he added that Manipur conducted its first election as an independent and sovereign State after enacting Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 and formulating Manipur State Election Rules in 1948 .
He maintained that the first democratically elected Government of Manipur had a strength of 53 members including 17 representatives from the hill districts.
Further stating that the Manipur State Assembly had its first sitting on October 18, 1948 at Manipur State Durbar presently known as Uttra Shanglen, Somorendro said that younger generations of the State must be apprised of the first elected Government of Manipur as it was the first of its kind in the entire South East Asia.
Claiming that Manipur, however, suffered a major drawback in its political status after 'forcefully' made to join the Dominion of India on September 21, 1949, Somorendro alleged that Maharaja Bodhachandra was 'forced' to sign the merger agreement after keeping him under house arrest for five days at Shillong.
After the signing of the merger agreement, Manipur which used to be an independent and sovereign Nation was reduced to a Part-C State, he said and added that CIRCA has been urging the India Government to respect and return the pre-merger political status of Manipur.
" It is clearly written in the Instrument of Accession that India would only oversee the External Affairs, Defence and Communication sectors relating to Manipur," it said and added the signing the Instrument of Accession validates that India acknowledges the internal autonomy of Manipur.
The CIRCA president went on to state that chronic issues of Manipur could only be solved by granting pre-merger political status to the erstwhile kingdom.