CIRCA takes drive to Umathel
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 05 2016 :
Coalition for Indigenes Rights Campaign (CIRCA) conducted a mass awareness programme to sensitize citizens of Umathel Mayai Leikai on what needs to be done to bring an end to the political conflict between Manipur and Union of India for the past 65 years.
The awareness programme emphasized on the Manipur Merger Agreement of 1949 signed between the then King Bodhachandra and the Indian Union.
Convener of CIRCA Thokchom Samarendra stated that the Merger Agreement can never be termed as an agreement as none of the assurances given by India has been fulfilled till today.
People of Manipur have been suppressed for 65 years and the Constitutional Act of Manipur is so far not recognized.
Such movement is not a separatist movement but a demand for a special Constitutional and political status of Manipur.
He added that on Aug 14, 1947 Manipur was declared an independent State by the then British and yet people are forced to observe Aug 15 as Independence Day.
It is very unfortunate that the Indian Union has failed to recognize what was promised to the people of Manipur.
Manipur should be granted the pre-merger political status granted to the people.
He said that the people should unite and think rationally whether they are living an independent life or not.
Resource person, Ningthouja Lancha asked how far the people are independent and developed under the India.
Enforcement of the dreaded AFSPA in Manipur, steps of the Indian Government to disintegrate the territorial integrity by signing the 'Naga Peace Accord' and removal of the Inner Line Permit System in 1950 from the State are some examples of suppressive acts on the people of Manipur, he added.
CIRCA has been campaigning against the alleged annexation of Manipur by the Indian Government and has been demanding restoration of the pre-merger political status of Manipur.
Under the Indian Union people of Manipur are forcefully annexed and not allowed to decide for their future.
The right to decide for an independent self rule endowed before the pre-merger agreement should be restored.
He said that none of the demands is anti-social or anti-National but a genuine demand from the people of Manipur as the people are denied of what they were promised by the then Indian Government.
"The Indian Government should deliver us the pre-merger political status or we demand for a 'home rule'.
We should not allow others to decide for our future and urged people not to believe on fictionalized comments against such movements," Lancha added.