Committee seeks Assam CM's nod to Manipuri AC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 24 2025: A nine-member delegation of the Manipuri Autonomous Council Demand Coordination Committee, Assam, on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through Cachar DC Mridul Yadav, urging the formation of a Manipuri Autonomous Council for the welfare and inclusive development of the Manipuri community living in Assam.

The delegation, led by committee chairman Kangabam Shantee Kumar, met the Cachar DC, who assured that the memorandum would be forwarded to the chief minister for necessary action.

The team also sought permission to stage a sit-in demonstration in Silchar in the near future and received a verbal nod from the DC.

As part of their visit, they also met and felicitated Cachar senior SP Numal Mahanta and informed him about the upcoming protest.

The committee also appealed to Manipuris living in Assam to participate in the upcoming demonstration.

In the memorandum, the committee presented a detailed case for the creation of the council, citing historical, cultural, linguistic and political grounds.

The Manipuri population in Assam is estimated at around 5 lakhs, spread across approximately 325 villages, mainly in the Barak Valley and several Upper Assam districts.

The memorandum traced the long-standing presence of Manipuris in Assam, including historical ties with the Ahom and Cachari kingdoms, and noted their contribution to the social and political fabric of the region.

It recalled key historical events such as the marriage alliance between Princess Kuranganayani, daughter of King Bhagyachandra of Manipur, and Swargadeo Rajeshwar Singha of the Ahom dynasty in 1768, which led to the settlement of Manipuris in Upper Assam.

The memorandum also referenced the 1802 marriage of Princess Induprava of Manipur with Cachari King Krishna Chandra and the migration of Manipuri royals and their followers to Cachar during the Burmese invasion of Manipur in the early 19th century.

Many Manipuris settled permanently in Assam during and after the Seven Years' Devastation (1819-1826) and later under.

British administration.

To support its historical claim, the committee cited colonial and post-colonial records, including the 1872 Statistical Account of Assam and the 1901 and 1951 Census reports, which documented the demographic and socio-cultural presence of Manipuris in Assam.

It pointed out that Manipuris were once represented in the state legislature with up to six elected MLAs, but demographic changes and constituency restructuring have left the community without any representation in recent years.

The memorandum stated that this political marginalisation has severely affected the community's ability to secure its socio-economic, educational and cultural rights.

The committee maintained that the formation of a Manipuri Autonomous Council, under the same administrative framework as those of the Moran, Matak and Koch-Rajbongshi councils recently constituted by the state government, would be a just and timely intervention.

The memorandum highlighted that many Manipuri-inhabited areas in districts such as Cachar, Hailakandi, Hojai, Kamrup, Sivasagar and Charaideo remain underdeveloped and excluded from targeted welfare initiatives.

The proposed autonomous council, the Committee said, would help bridge the developmental gap by facilitating decentralised planning and implementation of welfare schemes, improving education, healthcare and employment opportunities.

The committee clarified that the demand was not intended to divide Assam's multi-ethnic society but to protect the identity and secure the rights of the Manipuri community through constitutional means.

It called for adequate legislative and executive powers for the proposed council and appealed to the chief minister to act on the issue with urgency and fairness.

Stating that the Manipuri community continues to contribute to the growth and unity of Assam, the memorandum concluded with a plea that the government recognise their long-standing presence and legitimate aspirations by setting up the Manipuri Autonomous Council without delay.

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