Manipur State Council, Communist Party of India (MSC-CPI) expressed their discontentment against the Government of India for allegedly keeping Manipur underprivileged despite achieving the status of statehood 50 years ago.
MSC-CPI observed 50th Manipur Statehood Day on Friday at its office, Irawat Bhawan in a low key, maintaining COVID-19 SoPs and appropriate behavior.
Addressing the function, its state secretary Laishram Sotinkumar said that Manipur had obtained statehood 50 years ago. The status was achieved after rigorous movement from various sections of society but the state is yet to experience the real meaning of statehood, he said.
He further alleged that the state does not have enough rights to rule freely as it is controlled by the Government of India. With all their ploy and visionless policies, Manipur continues to remain as a dependent state till date, he said.
Many understandings that were signed as a part of the then Manipur merger agreement in 1949 are yet to be fulfilled till date, he further said, adding providing jobs to youths was one of them. The state is facing a huge issue with unemployment of around 8 lakh youths, he said. As a consequence, many educated youth have become drug addicts out of frustration and this is a complete failure in the policy and programme of the Government of India, he added.
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Although it exists as a full-fledged state, it is the right time to discuss the actual reality of Manipur, he said. With this view, the party is set to conduct a year-long symposium and discussion in connection with the history of Manipur Statehood and its present context, he announced. He also recalled the contributions made by MSC-CPI to make Manipur achieve statehood under the leadership of Hijam Irawat.
MSC-CPI Spokesperson RK Amusana who is also an intending candidate of the party from Khurai assembly constituency said that Manipur despite being a state with 2,000 years of history, the statehood was obtained very late in comparison with neighbouring states. This decision itself was a great mistake of the government of India, he said.
He further said that the future of Manipur has become at stake due to increase of drug menace as an impact of unemployment issue. There is a need for collective effort to raise a movement against the Government of India for their indirect strategy to make Manipur a hopeless state, he said.
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