Communal politics will do no good: CorCom
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 07 2025: Categorically saying that communal politics will do no good except harm, the CorCom has asserted that it would be wise for all the communities living in Manipur (Kangleipak) to shed communal politics.

A statement issued by the CorCom on its 14th foundation day (July 8) has extended best wishes to all the revolutionary organisations and the people Manipur (Kangleipak) and WESEA.

Paying homage to all those people who have laid down their lives in the course of the liberation movement of Manipur, the CorCom conveyed gratitude to all the people who have been standing firm for the revolutionary movement despite facing continuous repression.

Both the hill people and plain people of Manipur (Kangleipak) value freedom more than anything else.

That was why a people's Government was set up in 1948 after holding democratic elections soon after the end of British colonialism, it said.

From that moment on, Manipur (Kangleipak) imbibed all the characters of a modem Nation and it was Hijam Irabot who took a pivotal role in the establishment of a democratic Government in place of monarchy.

Following the lapse of the British paramountcy, an interim Government of independent Manipur was formed on August 14, 1947 and its Ministers included R Bob Khathing, TC Tiangkham and Md Basiruddin Ahmed, it said.

Earlier on March 10, 1947, a 16-member Constituent Assembly comprising both hill people and plain people was set up.

A Daiho, Thangkhopao Kipgen, TC Tiangkham, Teba Kilong and R Suisa were among the members of the Constituent Assembly.

The Manipur (Kangleipak) Constitution Act, 1947 came into effect from July 26, 1947 after it was signed by the king.

Under the Manipur (Kangleipak) Constitution Act, 1947, Manipur became a Constitutional monarchy.

After elections were held in June and July, 1948 through adult franchise and joint electorate, the first sitting of the National Parliament of Manipur (Kangleipak) was held on October 18, 1948.The proclamation made by the king as Constitutional head of the elected Government at the first sitting of the National Parliament gave a succinct description of the idea of Manipur (Kangleipak).

The king proclaimed, "The integrity and separate entity of the State (Manipur) is preserved forever as heretofore ensured by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru." It implied that Manipur (Kangleipak) was a sovereign entity and India (Bharat) must respect this status, the CorCom asserted.

It said that Manipur (Kangleipak) was able to exist as an independent Nation for thousands of years because of the unity and the collective resolve of hill people and plain to defend its sovereignty from all challenges.

It was only after the arrival of British colonizers that Manipur (Kangleipak) was divided into hills and valley.

"Now the British colonizers have gone, it's time for all people to come together", the king said at the first sitting of the National Parliament, according to the statement issued by the CorCom Publicity Committee.

The proclamation made by the king vividly reflected sovereignty, integrity and multicultural co-existence as the cornerstones of modem Manipur (Kangleipak).

It also encapsulated how Manipur (Kangleipak) evolved as a single Nationality comprising hill people and plain people.

Manipur evolved as a primordial Nation based on jus sanguinis (right of blood).

With the passage of time, civic nationalism also took roots on the soil of Manipur (Kangleipak) and social democracy took birth.

Thus Manipur (Kangleipak) evolved into a modem Nationality and a Constitutional entity based on jus soli (right of soil).

Manipur (Kangleipak) preceded India (Bharat) by a fair length of time when it came to establishment of Constitutional democracy, it claimed.

A civic culture had taken firm roots even before the arrival of the British and it indicated that Manipur (Kangleipak) was then a surplus economy.

Manipur was never an ethnic Nation.

The history and tradition of co-existence as seen in Manipur (Kangleipak) is described by Ernest Renan as a 'daily plebiscite'.

It was the 'common past' and the 'desire to live together' which laid the foundation of geo-body called Manipur (Kangleipak), it said.

There were several pre-colonial legacies in the journey of Manipur Nationhood.

Even before the western idea of 'modernity' reached here, there was a tradition of civic Nationalism in Manipur (Kangleipak).

In other words, Manipur (Kangleipak) started setting its foot on a multi-ethnic and secular path since pre-colonial period.

The Government of India Act 1935 and Section 5 of the Instrument of Accession (IOA) say that the independence of States would not be usurped and the IOA would not be enforced without the kings' consent.

Section 6 of the IOA says that India cannot annex the territories of States.

Again Section 7 of the IOA says that the then States like Manipur (Kangleipak) are not bound to accept or adhere to the Constitution of India, the CorCom said.

For all these reasons, there is no denial of the fact that Manipur had become an independent Nation after it drafted its Constitution on July 24, 1947 and held democratic elections in 1948, it asserted.

As per the international principle of 'Uti Possidetis Juris', the boundary recognised during the colonial period became the territory of Manipur (Kangleipak).

Thus the territorial integrity of Manipur became something untouchable, it said.

Because of these unique historical facts, India's 'Union of States' does not cover Manipur (Kangleipak), claimed CorCom.

Moreover, all the relations shared between India and Manipur (Kangleipak) were terminated by Section 7 of the Indian Independence Act.

This is exemplified by the forced annexation of Manipur (Kangleipak) on October 15, 1949, the CorCom alleged.

After the annexation of Manipur (Kangleipak) by India, communal laws were enacted and seeds of ethnic exclusivity were sown.

The same approach was seen in many areas of WESEA.

Creation of States based on ethnicity gave birth to dreams of ethnic homelands, it said.

It went on to allege that the violent crisis seen today in Manipur (Kangleipak) is a manifestation of the seeds of communal politics sown by Bharat (India).

India has been employing the politics of ethnic homeland as a counter-insurgency policy and they (India) are using militias of some communities in their Asia-Pacific geopolitical strategy, it said.

India has been sowing seeds of discord and division among the communities to obliterate the history of independence and the core idea of Manipur (Kangleipak).

As such, it would be wise for all the communities of Manipur (Kangleipak) to destroy this barrier of communalism, it added.

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