PREPAK calls for skipping Statehood Day celebration
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 20 2025:
There is no reason for the people of Kangleipak (Manipur) to join Statehood Day celebration being organised by state govern ment every year since Manipur became 19th state of India on January 21, 1972, stated the proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and called upon the people to refrain from joining the celebration on Tuesday.
According to a PREPAK statement, Kangleipak (Manipur) existed as an inde pendent nation with over 2,000 years of written history and unique culture and tradition.
However, India annexed Kangleipak in 1949 and later forcibly integrated as the 19th full-fledged state of India on January 21, 1972.Despite giving the d esignation of statehood, t here has been no meaningful progress or justice till date.
The statehood framework has rather resulted in suffering, marginalisation and exploitation.
If Iliad Government of India treated Kangleipak as a full-fledged state of its own, the ongoing crisis triggered by narco terrorist since May 3, 2023 could have been addressed effectively.
The present unrest in the state exacerbated by violence instigated by narco-terrorists has left thousands of people homeless and affected, the organisation said and accused the Government of India of failing to resolve the crisis.
Expressing strong opposition to commemorating Statehood Day citing historical, social and political grievances of the people, the PREPAK statement issued by Charge-De-Affairs of publicity and propaganda Leibaak Ngaakpa Luwang accused the Government of India of lacking effective border security particularly along the India-Myanmar border, a hotspot for narcotics trade due to its proximity to the Golden Triangle region.
While questioning as to why Kangleipak's borders remain poorly managed compared to India's heavily fortified borders with Pakistan, China and Bangladesh, PREPAK alleged Gol of neglecting the region's security and developmental needs.
It further criticised the reliance on central security agencies like the Assam Rifles for managing the internal security of Kangleipak while leaving state forces almost inoperative.
The organisation urged the people of Kangleipak to introspect on Kangleipak and the region's position within India's democratic framework and called for unity and collective resistance against policies that undermine the state's autonomy.
The ongoing marginalisation of Kangleipak underscores the need to reject the celebration of Statehood Day, the PREPAK statement added.