PREPAK gives food for thought on ‘Mt Manipur’

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 23 :  The proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) has asked whether the people of Manipur should celebrate the renaming of Mount Harriet at Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Mount Manipur on October 16, 2021.
A press release issued by LeibaakNgaakpa Luwang, charge d' affairs, publicity and propaganda PREPAK stated that the mountain was renamed as part of the Government initiative to  rename public spaces, especially those names given by the British.
Saying that the name of Ross Island at Andaman was also renamed as Netaji Subashchandra Bose Island on December 30, 2018, the outfit claimed that the Government is planning to rename many other islands on vested interest.
Continuing that the State Government and its followers are excessively rejoicing the initiative of the Centre with catchphrases such as "Thank You Modi. Thank You Amit Shah jee," PREPAK contended that such honouring seems more like seeking the favour of their leaders to save their chairs.
PREPAK further stated that Kangleipak was an independent kingdom ruled by 76 kings consecutively.
Claiming that Kangleipak existed as an independent entity even before the formation of India, the proscribed group alleged that the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 also had nothing to do with India.
The statement also claimed that India was occupied by the British bit by bit, but the war against Manipur was declared by Queen Victoria herself on March 24, 1891.
According to PREPAK, the war was fought in two phases.
In the first phase which was carried out to arrest Tikendrajit, the Manipuri freedom fighters eliminated many British soldiers including the Chief Commissioner of Assam, James Wallace Quinton (1834-1891) and four officers, PREPAK claimed and added that it was in the second phase  that Kangleipak was occupied by the British.
"Despite almost knowing the outcome of the war considering its fire power, our ancestors fought the war to save itself from the shackles of the British empire," it contended.
Continuing that Manipur ultimately lost the war and the Union Jack (Union flag) of British was hoisted on "our soil," PREPAK said that Tikendrajit and Thangal General were hung to death on August 13, 1891 at BT Park while Charai Thangal, Kajao (Pukhrambam Phingang) were hanged at Manipur Central Jail.
Then King Kulachandra Dhaja, Senapati Angousana and other 24 Manipuri soldiers were also exiled to Kalapani (Andaman), it reminded.
Saying that the sentence of those who were sent to exile  was revised in 1894 and King Kulachandra Dhaja and Angousana was taken to mainland India while the other were sentenced for 5 and 10 years respectively, PREPAK added that the relatives of the King, however, were not allowed to return to Manipur.
The renaming of Mt Harriet is of no big concern to the PREPAK, it said and added that the motive of the initiative, however, is questionable as it was allegedly taken up to suppress the freedom struggle of Kangleipak.
It is also disappointing that India is trying to project the Anglo Manipur War, Nupi Laan, the movement of Zeliangrong etc as part of the India freedom struggle, PREPAK added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah acknowledging the  written Constitution of Kangleipak is an important chapter in the history of their movement, PREPAK said and added that Kangleipak, however, has two Constitutions.
The first Constitution came into force during the time of King Loiyumba (1074-1122) while the other was enacted  in 1947 under Manipur Constitution Act 1947, according to  PREPAK.
The Merger Agreement signed by King Bodhachandra at Shillong is against Indian Independence Act  1947, Manipur Constitution Act 1947 and Law of Treaties 1969 of the Vienna Convention, the outfit contended.
The outfit also claimed that the king has no authority to   sign the treaty as per the Manipur Constitution Act.
Claiming that India has power to abolish the Manipur Constitution, the outfit urged the Government to do the needful to return "the independence of Manipur as Amit Shah himself acknowledged the existence of own Constitution during a function at Port Blair."