It is a setback that people fighting to retain pre-merger status of Manipur in conformity with Declaration of Human Rights are branded as terrorists by Indian government which goes soft on those waging war in mainland India, said AMKIL president in-charge Lourembam Nganbi
TFM News Service
All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) and United Peoples’ Front (UPF) jointly organized a one-day discussion on Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 Impact on the future of Manipur at AMSU’s multipurpose hall in Dhanamanjuri University campus.
Deliberating in the discussion, AMKIL president in-charge Lourembam Nganbi said Manipur got independence from the British on August 14, 1947. However, on September 21, 1949 Manipur King Maharaj Budhachandra was forced to sign a merger agreement with India after calling him to Shillong. Manipur was declared merged with India on October 15, 1949. The merger with India has led to Manipur’s downfall, she added.
As a mark of protest against the forced merger, one day discussion was organized on Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 Impact on the future of Manipur, she said.
She blamed India for enmity among indigenous communities living together in Manipur peacefully for years and deplored torture, rape, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detention by Indian Security forces under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. It is a setback that people fighting to retain pre-merger status of Manipur in conformity with the Declaration of Human Rights are branded as terrorists by the Indian government which goes soft on those waging war in mainland India, she lamented. International law permits fighting for defending one’s motherland, she asserted.
Nganbi slammed India for failure to address the border pillar issue and showing little interest in it. Stating the Indian Government must withdraw AFSPA from Manipur, she said India must know the consequence if it acts against the interest of the people.
Speaking on the occasion, AMSU president Haobijam Chalamba said people need to understand their origin and present status. If people may not try to defend Manipur if they do not know its history, he added.
Stating that many issues emerged following merger of Manipur with India, he said Manipur’s territory is shrinking day by day as ceding Manipur’s land becomes a norm for India which resort to divide and rule policy in the state. In these circumstances, time is ripe for people to ponder upon the future of Manipur and chalk out a strategy for a New Manipur, he added.
Many Resources persons also took part in the discussion and spoke on merger agreement.