'Indian Union ignoring state's decision on Merger Agreement'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 02 2011:
The decision of the Manipur Legislative Assembly which decried the forced merger of Manipur to the Indian Union and which resolved not to recognise the agreement, taken just after the signing of the Merger Agreement by the then assembly is being ignored by the Indian government, alleged Sapamcha Jadumani, president FRIENDS today.
He also appealed to the people of the state to submit a copy of the assembly resolution to the United Nations at the earliest.
Speaking in the 11th Foundation Day celebration of the All Clubs, Organisations, Associations and Meira Paibi Lup (ACOAM Lup) held at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, Jadumani said that the then council of ministers of the Manipur Legislative Assembly headed by Chief Minister MK Priyobarta took its decision not to recognize the forced Merger Agreement signed by the King of Manipur under duress.
The then government also sent the resolution copy to the Government of India.
Unfortunately, the government of India did not honour the resolution of the state assembly.
In such a situation, it is the obligation of the people of the state to question the Government of India why they are not honouring the assembly resolution and to bring it up to the United Nations for discussion.
He said that GoI is playing a divide and rule policy in the state through which they will find it easy to supress the state after disintegrating it.
Instead of giving a clear and firm stand on the territorial integrity of the state, the central government is busy in holding dialogues with those who want to disintegrate Manipur.
Indians are not the owner of the state but the Manipuris are, he said.
He also said that forefathers of Manipuris drew the boundary of the state giving their blood and lives.
UNC and NSCN-IM should not knock on the doors of the GoI and beg for land from Manipur to form southern Nagaland since GoI is not the owner of the state.
The decision whether to part with parts of the state or not is the right of Manipur.
One should not see the Meeteis only when it comes to Manipuris.
All the people of different communities residing in the state are Manipuris.
Unfortunately some Naga organisations who want to disintegrate the boundaries of Manipur are instigating the hill peoples to create communal ill feelings among the people of the state.
The GoI is taking undue advantage of the communal ill feelings among the people prevailing in the state.
It is high time to discuss the issue and act accordingly to prevent the GoI from taking undue advantages.
He further said that the propaganda of the GoI which tries to show the present revolution of the various revolutionary groups as an agitation against unemployment which is very unfortunate.
They should know that the ongoing revolution is the demand of the lost freedom of the state before October 15, 1949.The issue cannot not be solved by military power and the government should trace the roots of the revolution and discuss to bring an amicable solution.
They should initiate peace talks with the various UG groups of the state keeping their demands in consideration.
He also said that the state is now in a pitiable condition where unrest and turmoil has become an inseparable part of the society.
Many UG groups which indulge in extortion in the name of revolution are creating unrest in the state.
It is very important for the UG groups to unite under a single body and hold a dialogue with the government to solve the issue.
On the other hand the government should not be content and take it to be successful only after holding talks with a faction of the various UG groups, he added.
Yumnamcha Dilipkumar, president UCM said that UNC and NSCN-IM are trying to disintegrate the boundary of the state to form a Greater Nagaland.
Even though NSCN-IM is led by a Tangkhul, people in the valley should not take all Tangkhuls to be their enemies.
Not all Tangkhuls support the actions of NSCN-IM or the UNC.
Former president of ACOAM Lup RK Chandrakumar and president ACOAM Lup Indrakumar Ningombam graced the function as chief guest and president respectively.
President Poirei Leimarol Memchoubi, president HERICOUN M Churamani and president of Kabui Mothers' Association also talked on different issues of the state.
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