Cong dares BJP for debate on Kabaw Valley
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 11 2025: Reacting sharply to Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba's statement in the Parliament that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gifted Kabaw Valley to Burma (now Myanmar), Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) contended the MP's claim was 90 percent wrong.

Challenging BJP for an open debate on the matter, MPCC chief spokesperson Hareshwar Goswami said there should be no politics on sensitive matters like the Kabaw Valley.

Addressing media persons at Congress Bhawan on Tuesday, Hareshwar said MP Sanajaoba's repeated statement in the Parliament that Jawaharlal Nehru gifted Kabaw Valley to Burma and Congress should be held accountable holds no water.

Reflecting on the MP's assertion in the Parliament that Kabaw Valley was gifted to Burma on March 3, 1953, Hareshwar clarified that Jawaharlal Nehru first visited Manipur on October 23 and 24, 1952 and again from March 28 to 31, 1953 .

These records are available at national archives and tour programmes of Prime Ministers.

If Jawaharlal Nehru visited Manipur on March 3, 1953, there must be documents, he said and urged MP Sanajaoba to be cautious before raising critical matters in major forum like Parliament and think twice before making erroneous statement.

Citing highly placed source, Hareshwar said that gifting away of Kabaw Valley started during the reign of king Marjit, who ruled Manipur from 1813 to 1819.During the time, Marjit visited Burma and sought help for recognising him as king and started parting away Kabaw Valley.

He further said that Congress party is compelled to clarify on MP Sanajaoba's allegation as the matter is critical and it is untimely to raise such sensitive issues.

MP Sanajaoba should try to understand facts before making critical statement in big forum and important issues should be raised based on primary source, he said and vowed not to ever speak again on Kabaw Valley if Sanajaoba could corroborate the claim that Burma paid compensation to Manipur for Kabaw Valley.

Burma never paid compensation for Kabaw Valley but it was paid by the British to Manipur, Hareshwar pointed out and questioned if Kabaw Valley was included when Manipur merged to Indian union in 1949 .

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