UNLF censures Indian Ambassador's remark
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 29 2013:
Alleging that the Government of India and its agents have been trying in every possible way to put the Manipuris in bad light as well as to put its relation with its immediate neighbouring nation under strain; so that the freedom struggle of Manipuris against Indian occupation gets no sympathy and support from the neighbouring nations, the proscribed UNLF has asserted that India is sacrificing the land and the interest of Manipuri people in order to keep Indian interest intact.
The Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Gautam Mukhopadhyay's remark "The Shija Hospital's visit to Myanmar would go a long way in changing the Myanmarese people's notion of Manipuris being very hostile" is cruel and sarcastic, said a press release issued by the outfit's Senior Publicity Officer Ksh Yoiheiba.
His intention was to create a bad blood in the minds of the peoples of both Myanmar and Manipur and it was very transparent.
What the Indian Ambassador intentionally did forget is that historically Manipur has closer affinity to its South East Asian neighbours racially, culturally and socially; and enjoyed good relations with them although there were skirmishes at times.
Mr Gautam Mukhopadhyay's sarcastic pun is in bad taste as all the neighbouring nations know the alleged colonial and hegemonic designs of India very well, it alleged.
Though India gained its freedom after a long and hard fought struggle against the British; it immediately assumed the role of a colonial power in the region and annexed the smaller Western South East Asian kingdoms (called North-East by India), some treacherously and some forcibly.
The Indian colonialism showed its true colour when it militarily invaded and annexed Goa in 1961; even the UN condemned the Indian military action.
In the same pattern the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim was annexed treacherously in 1975 .
And now the sovereignty and independence of the small neighbouring nations like Nepal and Bhutan are at stake as they are landlocked and the hegemonic India threatens to block its nearest and only passage to the sea at the slightest reason, and thereby keeping them under their dictates.
India bullying around the region with a very transparent, regional expansionist policy is the real aggressor to the existence of all the smaller neighbouring nations, it alleged.
The cynical remark of the Indian ambassador cannot dampen the spirit of friendliness and co-operation between the two neighbours as both the peoples of Manipur and Myanmar are well aware of India's dubious intentions, it added.