NRFM calls Manipur bandh to protest Merger Agreement

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 18 : To protest the merger agreement, which the then king of Manipur Maharaja Bodhachandra was allegedly made to sign under duress on September 21, 1949 and to demand that the pact be rolled back, the National Revolutionary Front, Manipur (NRFM) has called a Statewide bandh on September 21.  Asserting that the revolutionary movement is not a move to disintegrate India but rather a demand that the lost sovereignty of Manipur be restored, NRFM in a statement questioned where draconian laws such as AFSPA, UAPA etc are enforced.  Citing the examples of Jammu and Kashmir, NRFM in the statement said that apart from abrogating Article 370, the Government of India has imprisoned many Kashmiris and alleged that this is an agenda to move from one Nation, one country, one language to one leader and one religion.
To live in such an environment is unacceptable, said NRFM and added that the so called democracy of India can be seen on the pathetic state of Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway even after 70 years.
After 56 years of being under the British following the defeat in the Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891, Manipur regained her independence on August 14, 1947, said NRFM and added that the after an election was held, MK Priyobarta became the first Chief Minister of the Government of Manipur State Council under a written Constitution, said NRFM.
Later some lumpen elements in cahoots with the then Ambassador of India Rawal Amar Singh got Maharaja Bodhachandra to go to Shillong, said NRFM. This was after the then Governor of Assam Prakash was met the then Union Home Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, alleged NRFM.  After keeping Maharaja Bodhachandra under literal house arrest for three days at Shillong, he was coerced  to sign the Merger Agreement alleged NRFM.
Recalling history, NRFM said that the seven years devastation of 1819 to 1826, Khongjom lan of 1891, the hoisting of the British flag inside Kangla in April 1891, the hanging of martyrs on August 13, 1891, the  independence of Manipur after the British left in 1947 are all periods which one cannot forget. It is to protest the forceful merger of Manipur to India that the Statewide bandh has been called on September 21, said NRFM and urged all to respect the bandh call.
The bandh will be relaxed for those on emergency medical cases, water and power supply and media persons, it added.