The proscribed umbrella organisation Coordination Committee (CorCom) on Monday stated that 15 August will be boycotted by imposing a total shutdown in the state from 1 am to 6.30 pm, while stating that the tri-colour flag of India does not define the independence of Manipur.
In a release issued by its media coordinator M Sak-hen, CorCom stated that essential services, medical and electricity services, water supply, fire services, press and religious activities will be exempted from the purview of the shutdown. India's Prime Minister Narenda Modi instructing each household to hoist the Indian flag is a new strategy to expand its colonialism in ‘Western South East Asia (WESEA) and Manipur, it stated. India was formed by forcefully merging many independent nations using deception and such a strategy is aimed to make these communities fully become a part of India, CorCom alleged.
In the name of constitutional amendment, India is further pushing its agenda of Hindu Chauvinism under the ‘One nation, one culture, one religion, one language’ and altering laws and acts against the minority population. The removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and introduction of Citizenship Amendment Act are examples, it added.
After the British left India, the Indian Independence Act, 1947 had proved that there were no elements of nationality among the Indians, CorCom stated. Therefore, as per Section 1.(1) of the Indian Independence Act, which was introduced by the British parliament, the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan were created, it added. The act also decided the fate of 565 princely states and abolished all the pre-existing agreements and treaties with the British, thereby announcing the independence of Manipur as well, it mentioned.
Subsequently, Manipur regained its independence on the midnight of August 14, 1947 and the flag of Manipur was unfurled at Kangla, CorCom stated.
Manipur not only unfurled its own flag but established a constitutional monarchy by conducting an election in 1948 and became a leading democratic nation in Asia, it mentioned. It was on its way to decolonisation by introducing a Constitution and setting up a government. However, it was annexed into India in 1949 and forcefully merged under duress on October 15, 1949, it stated.
Modi’s order to hoist Indian flags at each household is a ploy to suppress the sense of freedom in Manipur which had already enjoyed the taste of independence and democracy even before India did, CorCom further alleged.
It mentioned that in India, the Freedom of Press and fundamental rights of a citizen under a democratic constitution had been robbed by its government. India ranking below 100 in terms of Freedom of Press and below 50 in terms of democracy are the proofs, it stated.
CorCom further stated that in the month of August in 1891, five British officers were slain and Manipur became their graveyard, after which many brave leaders of Manipur were hanged. Forgetting such important events and making arrangements to organise ‘Har Ghar Tirangga’ in the state is pointless, it stated.
Considering that the tri-colour flag of India does not define the independence of Manipur, CorCom urges the general public not to hoist the Indian flag, it added.
