Manipur State Assembly Day observed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 18 2015: In commemoration of the first session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly held on October 18, 1949 after an election was held under the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947, the Coalition of Indigenes' Rights Campaign (CIRCA) observed the Manipur State Assembly Day today at Lamlong Keithel where the titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba unfurled the native flag of the State and received the guard of honour from the martial artistes.

On August 15, 1947 Manipur received its independence from the British rule and formed its own Constitution in the same year and formed a democratic State.

Following the formation of the Constitution, the State conducted its first State Assembly session on this very day.

From September 21, CIRCA has been campaigning against the annexation of Manipur by the Indian Government and has been demanding the restoration of pre-merger political status of the State.

Manipur State Assembly Day observed

Addressing the people gathered for the simple observation function, Leishemba Sanajaoba said that the demand for the said political status should not be wrongly interpreted by any section of society.

He said that none of the demands is anti-social or anti-National but a genuine demand from the people of Manipur as "we are denied of what we were promised by the then Indian Government when the 'Merger Agreement' was signed" .

"On 21st September, 1949 Manipur merged with the Indian Union and even after 60 years under the Indian Constitution we are frequently troubled by the divide and rule tactics of the Indian Government.

Such divide and rule policy has distanced the relations between the indigenous brethrens of Manipur which has a long history of more than a thousand years," he added.

Enforcement of the dreaded AFSPA in Manipur, steps of the Indian Government to disintegrate the territorial integrity by signing the 'Naga Peace Accord' and removal of the Inner Line Permit system in 1950 from the State were some of the examples cited by the titular king of Manipur in his address.

"As the Indian Government has failed to keep its word in the 'Merger Agreement', the people of Manipur should be allowed to choose their own path to a more developed Sovereign State", Leisemba Sanajaoba added.

He maintained that either the Indian Government deliver the pre-merger political status of Manipur or we should demand a 'home rule'.

"We all must understand the very fact that the prevailing situation of the State is the handiwork of India.

CIRCA and Pioneer Education and Sporting Union, Oinam also observed the day at Oinam Keithel.

Secretary of Kom Literature Society, Mangpu Kilong, social worker Oinam Ibochou, retired lecturer of L Sanoi college, Nambol, N Saratchandra, Principal of Royal Academy of Law, I Jugeshore, Editor of Imphal Free Press Pradip Phanjoubam, spokesman of CIRCA, Manipur Ningthouja Lancha and convenor Somorendro Thokchom attended the function as presidium members.

Speaking at the function, retired Assistant Registrar of Manipur University, Dr O Kulabidhu that two approaches may be adopted to ensure that the people of Manipur live freely and in a democratic set up.

Approaching the United Nations to restore the sovereignty of Manipur is one of them, he said.

The other is to urge the Government of India to let Manipur decide its own internal affairs while the foreign affairs may be looked after by India.

This means a special status for Manipur, he added.