Koireng-Ied UNLF points out 'omission'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 12 2024:
Commenting on a discussion programme "Conversation on the Concept of Manipur/ A Resilient Manipur" hosted by Manipur Thinker's Forum which has been shared on Youtube, the proscribed Koireng-led UNLF has pointed out certain 'key omissions' .
Nonetheless, the outfit said that it salutes the spirit of Prof Bhagat Oinam and Prof Priyoranjan who deliberated on the strength and weakness of Manipur Nation.
The discussion on the Nations/peoples who successfully adapted to the changing times and those who failed was an attempt to empower the Nation but Prof Bhagat left out a very key section, the outfit's Central Committee remarked in a press statement.
The forcible annexation of Manipur in 1949 was not mentioned during the discussion.
It also skipped abolition of the constitutional monarchic democracy of independent Manipur and humiliation of Manipuri people by reducing Manipur to the status of a 'Part C State' and how India reversed the international decolonization process, it said.
The liberation movement of Manipur which began in the 1960's did not grow out of nothing.
The movement is a struggle to win back the right to self-determination which was usurped in 1949, and this was repeatedly pointed out in, the outfit's statements, it said.
But Prof Bhagat was saying that the liberation movement of Manipur was borne out of the apprehension that the Greater Nagaland struggle would take away the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur.
Prof Bhagat's statement projected the liberation movement of Manipur as exclusive to a particular community.
But this is wrong.
The revolutionary movement was launched with a clear understanding to promote pluralism by encompassing all the communities, it asserted.
"We hope that Prof Bhagat would rectify such wrong perspectives and key omissions in future discussion programmes on public platforms", the outfit's Central Committee added.