Cultural activist Ningthouja Lancha on Monday asserted that it was time for the people of Manipur to re-negotiate the Merger Agreement of 1949 with the union of India as both the central and state governments have utterly failed to safeguard the people and the state.
“This will not be easy but we do not have any other choice but demand such drastic measures to reclaim the political right of Manipur; the people should take a firm collective decision and fight for our right to self-determination,” he said.
He was speaking at the release function of a music video ‘Ngamnaba Lanphamse’, a song dedicated to the martyrs of the Manipur crisis, at Kongpal Khaidem Leikai, Imphal.
He emphasised the need for people to realise the true enemies of Manipur and maintain that the unity of the Meiteis was the only weapon to tackle them.
“The passive attitude of the central government has made it clear that there is no one to support the collective identity of Manipur as such it is time for people to decide and mete out measures to safeguard this identity,” he said.
He further alleged that the central government was conspiring with the Kukis to wipe out the Meiteis from Manipur.
He also lambasted the prime minister for his recent selective condemnation and stated that instead of bringing a resolution to the crisis after his oppressive silence, the prime minister chose to defend his political career to prevent heat in the parliament.
“By bringing up the May 4 incident the prime minister has shamelessly accepted his failure as a leader and in turn committed a more horrific crime than the one in the video,” he said.
As such he condemned the prime minister’s attempt to malign the image of the entire Meitei community.
He also lashed out at the national media for intentionally striving to paint the May 4 incident in a different narrative and trying to justify the prime minister’s pathetic statement.
“National mainstream media are intentionally trying to paint their own narrative of the May 4 incident and justify the stance of their central leaders; we should condemn such attempts and even boycott national media,” he said.
He maintained that the centre was striving to silence the outcry of the people and as such exhorted people not to lose heart in the middle of the battle.
Biased security measures, sprouting detrimental narrative; we need to see through all the noise and focus on the true objective, he added.
Vice president of All Manipur Nupi Marup Chana Lembi, former AIR announcer KeKe Wahengbam, member of Kongpal Kongkham Awang Meira Lup Lairenlakpam Tombi among others were also present at the function.
