Public meet held on Merger Agreement
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, September 29 2019: A one-day public discussion programme on the topic 'Merger Agreement 1949: Manipur & India' was held today at Lamding Higher Secondary School, Thoubal, reports our correspondent.

The discussion programme was jointly organised by the Thoubal District United Women's Development Organisation (Thoubal Ima) and the United People's Administrative Council (UPACO).

Thoubal Ima president Sapam Bimola Leima, retired IPS officer Sarangthem Manaobi (Khoiranthaba), social worker N Lokendra, Manipur State Amateur Boxing Association vice-president N Kuber and National Teacher awardee Tekcham Rameshwar attended the discussion programme as presidium members.

Human Rights Alert (HRA) Executive Director Babloo Loitongbam and United Peoples Front (UPF) advisor L Jadu spoke as resource persons at the gathering.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Sarangthem Manaobi alias Khoiranthaba remarked that Manipur is on the verge of total downfall as a result of the Merger Agreement.

People of Manipur have been suffering untold misery because of the Merger Agreement.

Even though Manipur existed as a sovereign, independent kingdom for over 2000 years, Manipuri people are now living like slaves.

Subsequent upon the Merger Agreement, economic insecurity has become a critical issue of Manipur, Manaobi said.

All the people need to cut off their allegiance to parties controlled by Delhi and establish their own, if Manipur must be saved from the prevailing sorry state of affairs, he said.

He also accused the Government of India of concealing all copies of the Merger Agreement signed in 1949.Since the Merger Agreement, people of Manipur are being suppressed in the most inhuman nature.

More than 2000 innocent people have been killed under the immunity guaranteed by AFSPA, he said.

Now the people of Manipur are staring at a very uncertain future emanating from CAB and the Framework Agreement, he remarked while calling upon all the people to be alert.

Thoubal Ima vice-president Kh Memma pointed out that the biggest challenge at the moment is Government of India's attempts to disintegrate Manipur in the name of appeasing NSCN-IM.

Even if the territorial boundary of Manipur is kept intact, it is possible that Government of India may create separate administrative divisions based on communal lines within the State of Manipur, Memma said.

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