UCM opens silver jubilee celebration
Need for collective voice of people stressed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 03 2025: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has completed 24 years of its establishment and it celebrated its 24th foundation today where the silver jubilee year celebration was also opened.

The event held at Tantha Hall, Lamphel SuperMarket was graced by UCM president YK Dhiren, UPF president N Rupachandra, IPSA president Mainam Bisheshwor, NIPCO president Oinam Premjit, PANDAM president Yumnamcha Dilipkumar, ACOAM Lup Kangleipak president Soraisam Sanjit and Kanglamei president Y Leirikleima as presidium members.

Informing that the UCM was set up on July 3, 2001, YK Dhiren extended best wishes to all the people on the 24th foundation day of UCM.

He said that the UCM was set up with the primary objective of fostering peaceful coexistence, unity and collective development of all the communities of Manipur.

In the wake of the ceasefire agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN(IM) without territorial limits, the people of Manipur erupted in a massive, spontaneous protest movement with a common slogan that Manipur cannot be dismembered.

Sensing the need to articulate the collective voice of the people, many CSOs of the time came together and formed the UCM, Dhiren said.

Even though it has been 24 years since the UCM was established, the challenges to the integrity of Manipur have not abated.

In their consistent efforts to destroy the National unity and territorial integrity of Manipur, the Government of India has been creating discord among the communities.

As a result, Chin-Kuki-Zo communities are now demanding Separate Administration.

Such issues need collective response from all sections of people, he said.

Instead of working to resolve such issues in time, the Government of India has been conspiring to sustain and prolong such crises and projecting the communities of Manipur as antagonistic, he alleged.

Given this approach and attitude of the Government of India, all the communities must understand the critical issues facing the State, he said.

Even though the Government of India has been talking with CSOs and giving assurances that the territorial integrity of Manipur will not be compromised, it is still questionable how far the Government of India's assurance can be trusted.

In order to preserve the territorial boundary and National unity of Manipur which were there before its merger with the Indian Union, there is a need for insertion of a special provision in the Constitution, he said.

The UCM has been considering raising this matter in consultation with legal experts and intellectuals.

Until and unless such a special provision is inserted in the Constitution, all the people need to remain vigilant in order to protect the integrity of Manipur, Dhiren added.

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