UPRFM calls 12 hours shutdown on Jan 26

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 23 : Claiming that it makes no sense to celebrate the 71st Republic Day, the United People's Revolutionary Front of Manipur has announced a total shutdown on January 26 from 6 am to 6 pm.
In a statement issued to the press, the outfit said that much before India became a Republic in 1950, Manipur had its own written Constitution from 1947 and an elected Government was formed in 1948.
Given this reality, it makes no sense for the people of Manipur to take part in the Republic Day celebration of India on January 26, it said and added that like Kangleipak other small princely States such as Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura and Hyderabad were taken over by India forcefully, alleged the outfit.
Much before India became a country, Kangleipak was an independent country from 33 AD with records of 76 Kings having ruled the place. Moreover in the 2000 years of its history, it signed various treaties, agreements with other countries, said the statement and added that after the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri war, the place was annexed by the Britishers.
But after the British left in 1947, Manipur again became a sovereign entity on August 14, 1947 one day before India became an independent country, alleged the outfit.
The King was made the Constitutional head and the first election under adult franchise was held in June/July 1948, claimed the outfit and added that after the election 53 representatives from the hills and plain were elected.
The outfit further claimed that under the Manipur Constitution Act of 1947, the first sitting of the National Assembly was held on  October 18, 1948.
However, India which came later, enticed Maharaja Budhachandra to Shillong and forcefully made him sign the Merger Agreement on September 21, 1949 bypassing the duly elected legislative Assembly back then.
After this, the Manipur Legislative Assembly in its sitting held on September 28 negated the agreement and issued its own gazette order on October 14, 1949 alleged the outfit. However the Government of India negated the resolutions of the Assembly and announced on October 15, 1949 that Manipur has merged with India, alleged the UPRFM.
After the merger, Manipur has been subjected to a state of exploitation and evil designs, alleged UPRFM and added that the people have been reeling under a divide and rule policy, the relentless policy of the Government of India to defile the sanctity of the land and letting the people grow under a dependency syndrome.
It is under these policies that the people of the land have been reeling under extra-judicial executions, excesses of the military personnel under the impunity granted by AFSPA, alleged the outfit further.
It is to protest these policies that a 12 hour total shutdown has been called on January 26 from 6 am to 6 pm, added the outfit.
The shutdown will be relaxed for emergency services and for all activities related to religious functions, it added.