Our Correspondent
Imphal, Sep. 21 (EMN): Normal life in Manipur particularly in the state capital has been severely affected in view of the 24 hour bandh by the National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) against the merger of Manipur with the Indian union today.
Markets, business establishments and educational institutions in the state, particularly in Imphal, were closed for the day. Imphal wore a desolate look from dawn to dusk. Normal life was severely affected as all transport services including inter-state and inter-district were suspended for the day.However there is no report of any unwanted incident during the course of the bandh. On the other hand the bandh did not affect the Imphal International airport.
The Government offices remained closed as the day’s bandh coincides with Mera Chaoren Houba, a festival to promote unity and strengthen the bond of brotherhood among all the communities in Manipur, on Thursday.
Manipur merged with Indian union after the then Maharaj Bodhachandra of Manipur was forced to sign the agreement at Shillong on Sep. 21, 1949, according to NRFM.
Claiming that the present scenario in Manipur is a result of the Merger Agreement, NRFM in a release to local media alleged, the “colonial” Government of India has completely ruined the identity of the indigenous people during its 66 years of oppressive rule.
Meanwhile Manipur based social organisation -Coalition for Indigenous’ Rights which had been campaigning for reinstatement of pre-merger political status for the state of Manipur, also observed the day as National Repentance Day by holding a public meeting at the Royal palace in Imphal on Thursday morning. Most of the speakers in the day’s gathering maintained that demanding pre-merger status for Manipur is not anti-Indian at all.
Manipur which existed as a sovereign kingdom since 33 AD, became part of Indian Union after the Manipur Merger Agreement was signed between the Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra and Government of India in 1949 at Meghalaya capital Shillong.
