The banned armed group, Zeliangrong United Front has reaffirms its Zeliangrong State demand on its 4th Raising Day on February 25, 2015.
The movement being taken up is to rededicate ourselves toward achieving the dream of the Zeliangrong people. The Front reiterates that it is to seek and strive for the creation of Zeliangrong state within the ‘Union of India’. Haipou Jadonang stood up against the exploitative regime of the British colonial power with the aim to establish ‘Makaam Gwangdi’ or Zeliangrong kingdom, L. Longmei Info. & Publicity Secretary of ZUF said in a release.
‘Despite series of suppressive measures aimed to contain the Zeliangrong uprising, the Zeliangrong people reorganized themselves including arm wing. As a result the British tried to marginalize the Zeliangrongs by placing them under different administrative units. Later after independent of India, the Zeliangrong were further divided into three different states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, and even into different districts which further marginalized them economically, politically and socially.’
It also said that considering the various predicaments and hurdles faced by Zeliangrong people, the Zeliangrong People’s Convention (ZPC) was formed in 1980s under the leadership of Rani Gaidinliu and launched people’s movement for Zeliangrong homeland. ZPC consequently submitted various memoranda to the successive governments starting from the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narashimha Rao. In all these, positive assurances were given to the ZPC leaders. However, the demand for statehood has not been granted so far. Therefore, the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) was formed on 25th February, 2011 to continue the struggle for Zeliangrong state/homeland which was left unfulfilled by our past leaders. Consequently, the Front have submitted memorandum to the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Government of India (UPA) demanding statehood for the Zeliangrong people and kin tribes on April 18, 2013. Similarly, the Front also submitted another memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Government of India (NDA) on February 25, 2015.
‘Therefore, the Front appeals to the Government of India to grant the genuine demand of the Zeliangrong people at the earliest. ZUF also seeks fullest cooperation from various neighbouring ethnic groups of Northeast India towards fulfilment of the long pending demand of Zeliangrong people for statehood. The Front appeals to all the Zeliangrong people, civil society, social organizations, churches and institutions of indigenous faith and individuals to cooperate with the movement. In pursuit of this movement, every Zeliangrong individuals is duty-bound to extent fullest cooperation and solidarity toward this noble cause. Under any circumstances, if any Zeliangrongs is found to be an obstacle to the aspiration of the Zeliangrong people for statehood, he/she shall be deemed as anti-Zeliangrong and the consequences thereof shall be at their own.’
