SOREPA calls 12 hour shutdown on Oct 15
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 11 2023:
The Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA), Kangleipak has imposed a 12-hour total shutdown on October 15, 'against the forceful annexation of Manipur by India' .
The shutdown will commence from 5 am and continue till 5 pm but it won't cover essential and emergency service providers and religious ceremonies, said SOREPA in a statement issued today.
Claiming that Manipur was forcefully annexed by India after the British left on October 15, 1949, the outfit alleged that the once independent kingdom can't even pursue its own political and economic process or do anything without the consent of India now.
SOREPA went on to claim that Manipur has become a marketplace of colonial India after the annexation.
"Like India exploits the petroleum products of Assam and coal from Meghalaya and sells them again to the States at the price they fix, the people of Manipur have also been purchasing power generated from Loktak Lake at the price fixed by the colonial power," the outfit alleged.
Saying that modern and sophisticated technology are today applied to every sector including agriculture to maximize yield, SOREPA rued that the farmers in Manipur, however, still rely on the traditional method for irrigation and other needs.
Manipur which used to be an independent kingdom now relies on India for food and other needs and the same can be seen in the protest taken out by people from time to time against inadequate provision of subsidised rice, SOREPA maintained.
The outfit further claimed that Manipur which has a rich history spanning over 3000 years now stands before India like a beggar after the 'annexation' .
Claiming that narco-terrorists and drug cartel from outside engaging in widespread deforestation and poppy cultivation at the hill places mostly dominated by Khongjai brethren is another major challenge which threatens the future of Manipur, SOREPA continued that a sincere effort is needed to protect the identity of Manipur from all these threats.
The outfit called for a collective fight to abolish corruption, instil work culture and make Manipur self- sufficient on food to protect the identity of the erstwhile kingdom.
It is an undeniable fact that Manipur was once an independent kingdom established on the idea of equality, SOREPA said and added that Manipur lost its independence twice due to mistrust among the indigenous communities and violation of the norms of the society by certain rulers.
The movement to regain the sovereignty of Manipur is very much alive today and many people have died for the cause, SOREPA claimed.
Alleging that India which considers itself to be the largest democracy still oppresses the people of its colonised States, SOREPA claimed that elections are being held regularly only to portray itself as a democratic Nation but in reality the colonised States can't take any decision without the consent of the colonial power.
The outfit also claimed that colonial India has been scheming to abolish the history and identity of Manipur.
Claiming that India is home to millions of homeless people and they openly and discreetly have been entering Manipur in search of livelihood as they have been ignored completely by their Government, SOREPA alleged that the influx of these homeless people, though labourers, should be taken seriously as they can dilute the identity of Manipur.
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