Don't challenge the idea of Manipur : AMUCO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 28 2024: The All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has warned all concerned not to ever challenge the idea of Manipur else the people will raise demands which may be deemed radical.

The 8th death anniversary of Pabung Iboyaima was observed today at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai community hall under the aegis of the Pabung Iboyaima Memorial Trust.

The gathering offered floral tributes to Pabung Iboyaima and observed silence for two minutes in honour of all the people killed in the ongoing violence and Pabung Iboyaima.

Speaking on the occasion, AMUCO president Ph Nando Luwang said that Pabung Iboyaima lived up to 100 years and he worked for Manipur and her people till his dying years.

For his dedication to the cause of Manipur, Pabung Iboyaima was given the title "Father of Social Workers", Nando said.

The AMUCO president said that the idea of Manipur is basically about peaceful co-existence and collective development.

There is no room for communal politics or ethno-centric aspirations in the idea of Manipur, he said.

The Manipur Merger Agreement and the subsequent merger of Manipur into the Indian Union is one major factor for polarisation of communities in Manipur, he alleged.

A few 'non-sensical agreements' including the Manipur Merger Agreement and the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement have been challenging the idea of Manipur.

It was the SoO agreement which encouraged Kukis to demand a separate State, Nando Luwang said.

There are a large number of Kuki-Zo people who are opposed to the activities of Kuki-Zo militants and drug cartels but the Government of India has placed the Kuki-Zo people in such a situation that they can not raise any voice of opposition.

The Government of India is not protecting the Kuki-Zo people, he alleged.

There are a large number of Kuki-Zo people who are committed to uphold the integrity of Manipur and opposed to all ideas of disintegrating Manipur, Nando said.

These Kuki-Zo people are opposed to the activities of Kuki-Zo terrorists and drug cartels but they are unable to raise any voice of opposition.

It is the Government of India which is disabling the Kuki-Zo to raise voices of opposition, he said.

Whereas Kuki-Zo militants groups and the Government of India are under an agreement, the Government of India has no intention to protect unarmed Kuki-Zo civilians, Nando said.

Accusing the Government of India of scheming to destroy the idea of Manipur, the AMUCO president asserted that all the activities or policies of the Government are not acceptable.

If the Government of India is determined to destroy the idea of Manipur, the people of Manipur will certainly raise a strong voice cursing the State's merger with India.

Already different sections of people have started cursing the State's merger into the Indian Union and the way the Government of India has been treating Manipuris as non-citizens of India.

They have even started expressing their strong dislike to remain within India any longer, he said.

He warned that the people of Manipur will raise a strong voice for separation from India if the Government of India does not stop challenging the idea of Manipur.

IFM Manipur president and PIMST convenor Kh Gopen Luwang said that the 8th death anniversary of Pabung Iboyaima was being observed with a public discussion on the idea of Manipur espoused by the later social worker.

Before Manipur's merger into the Indian Union, all the communities lived together in peace and complete harmony.

It was only after the merger that distrust and animosity surfaced among the communities, Gopen said.

Pabung Iboyaima once asserted that all the demands for homelands and Union Territories out of Manipur were untenable and unacceptable but all the communities must live together and grow collectively, Gopen added.

Apart from Nando Luwang and Gopen Luwang, AMAWOVA president Y Kunjarani, AMESCO president L Ibotombi Meetei, AMMUC president T Dayachand, MSF president Hijam Roshan, NRC president Thongam Ajit, YOFFS president H Meghachandra, AMMPACO president Y Hayatur Rahman and AMACSU president K Premkanta too attended the function as presidium members.

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