ASUK calls for total shutdown on August 15

The proscribed armed group Alliance for Socialist Unity, Kangleipak (ASUK) has announced a 12-hour statewide shutdown on August 15, from 6 am to 6 pm, in protest against the observance of India’s Independence Day in Manipur.
In a statement issued by S. Mangal, Convener of ASUK’s Publicity Committee, the outfit reiterated its stand that August 15 marks “Colonial Freedom Day” for India, whereas the people of Manipur consider August 14 as their own Independence Day. The group claimed that the state was forcibly annexed into the Indian Union on October 15, 1949, and has since remained under “colonial” rule.
The statement said that despite this history, orders are issued annually for institutions and public places in Manipur to join Independence Day celebrations, with security forces and pro-India armed groups tasked with ensuring compliance.
ASUK alleged that under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, civilians in Manipur have suffered killings, village burnings, and destruction at the hands of the Indian Army. The group further accused the Indian government of creating “proxy armies” from among the local population to act against those seeking independence.
Warning of demographic changes, the outfit claimed that ongoing policies aim to uproot indigenous communities from their ancestral lands, assimilate them into other populations, and erase their identity. According to ASUK, if current trends continue, Meeteis will become a minority in their own homeland within a few decades, followed by other indigenous groups.
The statement also criticised India’s historical integration of former princely states, claiming many were coerced into joining through political pressure or military action. It cited Manipur, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Goa, and Sikkim as examples of annexations, some of which sparked international disputes.
ASUK argued that India operates as an “expansionist” and “imperialist” state dominated by Hindi-speaking northern communities, with a long-standing agenda to culturally and politically assimilate peripheral regions. The group alleged that this policy has been pursued by successive governments, with the current ruling bloc — the BJP-led NDA — adopting a more aggressive approach.
Linking the current political climate to global trends, ASUK described the present regime as “fascist,” drawing parallels to historical authoritarian governments and referencing the “14 Characteristics of Fascism” identified by political scientist Lawrence Britt in 2003.
The outfit urged the people of Manipur to observe the August 15 shutdown as a rejection of “colonial celebrations” and as a reaffirmation of their distinct political and historical identity.