IT News
Imphal, Oct 10:
Proscribed group CORCOM has called total shut down on October 15 by observing the day as ‘National Black Day’ in protest against the annexation of Manipur to the Indian Union on that day of 1949.
A statement by the media co-ordinator of CORCOM, M. Sak-hen said that CORCOM has been observing October 15 as National Black Day every year to protest the annexation of Manipur (Kangleipak) in protest against the signing of merger agreement on September 21, 1949 at Shillong. Then, king of Manipur was force to sign the so called merger agreement under duress at Shillong on September 21, 1949 and the Asiatic Sovereign State was forcibly merged to Indian Union on October 15 of the same year, the statement said.
The statement further said that the sovereign state of Manipur (Kangleipak) which had a written constitution in the Western South East Asia (WESEA) became a protectorate state under the British Empire after defeated in the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri war till 1947. The British suzerainty lapsed after the passing of the Indian Independence Act 1947 (II A) and the Independent status of Princely states along with Manipur (Kangleipak) was restored. Manipur (Kangleipak) then become a sovereign state which had a written Constitution, but in violation of the International Law the Dominion of India annexed the state on October 15, 1949. On July 29 of 1949 MLAs from Hills region opposed the annexation. On August 3, 1949, a public meeting was convened and sent letter to the then Prime Minister of India against the annexation of Manipur . On August 15,1949 when some Congress men celebrates Indian Independence Day , ex-minister Dr. Lairen led ‘Students Federation’ hoisted black flag. On August 25, 1949 Ruling MLAs of the Manipur Assembly after taking a resolution against the annexation sent a copy to the deputy prime minister of India.
The armed movement of Hijam Irabot led Manipur Communist Party in 1948 , then the unramed movement under the leadership of Sagolsem Indramani in 1952 and later the Manipur Nationalist Party under the former Chief Minister Yangmasho Shaiza openly declared Manipur as an Independent state and did not accepted the Merger Agreement. Later in 1960s the people have been openly challenging the annexation of Manipur. However, some loyalist scholar of India have been justifying the September 21, 1949 episode on the line of instrument of accession of August 11, 1947 saying that Manipur was already in India.
