BOYCOTT

INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS AND OBSERVE GENERAL STRIKE ON 15 AUGUST 2022

THE TRI-COLOUR DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE FREEDOM OF MANIPUR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instruction to hoist the Indian National flag in every household to commemorate the 75t Independence Day is a new strategy of the colonial rule in Western South East Asia (WESEA) including Manipur (Kangleipak). Modi’s initiative of “Har Ghar Tirangga'” is a secret tactic to convert the colonized people into Indian citizens. India as a nation was formed by annexing small princely states from the time of British rule.

Therefore, these small states are still fighting for their freedom. In the name of One India, one culture, one religion, one language the government is making amendments to the constitution which give special rights to the minorities. Mention may be made of the revoking of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and the introduction of the Citizen Amendment Act. It would not be wrong to say that the Hindutva policies made on Hindu Chauvinistic ideals are a scheme to destroy and annihilate the cultural identity of the minority indigenous groups. The freedom struggle of India and the notion of Akhand Bharat were devised upon the Hindu Brahmanical ideologies. It was clear from The Indian Independence Act, 1947 that India did not have 1 the (1) prerequisite The Indian conditions Independence of being an Act, nation 1947 when India the was British divided left in into 1947. Therefore, Dominion of under India Section and Raj Dominion of Pakistan. Under Section 7 (b) of the same Act, the agreements made with the British were annulled and thus Manipur became an independent state. When the British left Manipur (Kangleipak) on August 14, 1974, Manipur became an independent nation and the independent flag of Manipur was once again hoisted at Kangla. After independence, Manipur adopted Constitutional Monarchy and the first election was held in 1948 becoming one of the first nations in Asia to adopt a democratic system. Another obvious example of Manipur being an independent nation was the Indian Annexation of Manipur in 1949.

Our forefathers founded the nation of Manipur based on the principles of democracy and socialism and by bringing the hills and valley together. But the expansionist nationalism based on Hinduism shattered the dreams of the Manipur peoples and forcefully annexed India at gunpoint on October 15, 1949. After its annexation, India began treating Manipur as a garrison. And the existing laws to check and control illegal immigration of foreigners were also abolished to make Manipur a settler colony. This led to the unchecked rise in the population of foreigners. Moreover, martial law like The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 was imposed in WESEA to torture and eliminate indigenous people and carry out other war crimes. The principle of respecting the rights and lives of people in conflict zone under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention 1949 is also being repeatedly denied by the Indian government. UN’s Universal Periodic Review has also been instructing India that AFSPA denies people the constitutional right to life. At such a juncture, the imposition to hoist the tri-colour in every household to commemorate the 75th Independence Day of India is a part of the process of assimilation to India, and such an instruction is a mockery to the people of WESEA. Colonial India should always remember that the people of WESEA defeated the British soldiers continually. That Today, some anti-national people of Manipur writers, sympathetic toward Hindu nationalism, have been writing distorted history and literature to portray the freedom fighters of Manipur as part of the Indian Brahmanical nationalism. But the fact is that 75 years of Indian independence have been oppressing the indigenous people. Modi does not understand that Manipur had the taste of freedom and democracy before India. His initiative of “Har Ghar Tirangga” and its imposition is a new enterprise of colonial India to deny the rights and suppress the spirit of freedom struggle of the indigenous people. In the history of colonial rule, there are different strategies to colonize a nation.

These strategies include religion, culture, language and script and influencing the mindset of the people. There are various instances of building India as a nation on the ground of the Hindu religion. And thus, religious minorities like Muslims and Christian and ethnic minorities like the people of WESEA are facing the impact of cultural and political violence, People in WESEA are facing the consequences of racism and political violence. But instead of peaceful justification, the Indian government is carrying out acts of violence like the torture of the indigenous people. With the rise of the Right-Wing Fascist government, new laws and machinery are made to suppress the freedom-loving people. Elements of a democratic system like Freedom of the Press, Secularism and other fundamental rights of the people are also being denied. As a result, in the global ranking of Freedom of Press, India is could not get a spot in the first 100, while in the Democracy ranking, India’s spot comes after 50. Indian constitution has the largest constitution but it is based on cultural nationalism and majoritarianism. The act of introduction of CAA, Uniform Civil Code, abrogation of Article 370 and now imposition to hoist Indian National Flag is similar to fascist Germany.

This is similar to how Hitler carried out ideological violence on the pretext of implementing national symbols. The imposition of hoisting of the Indian flag in every household while the independent flag of Manipur is trampled by the colonial government is an act of poking the feelings of the people of Manipur. Modi’s initiative of flag hoisting will be a failure in many parts of India. It will also be a failure in Manipur because August is a month filled with unforgettable incidents for the Manipur people. It is said that the sun never sets in the British Empire but in 1891 in Manipur, many British soldiers including five officers were killed. Following this, in the month of August of the same year, several patriots of Manipur were executed by the colonial government without proper trial. In this historically remarkable month of August, it is an illusion to successfully organize the “Har Ghar Tirangga” program in Manipur. Therefore, neo-colonist India should realize that as many programs related to the freedom of India are organized, Manipur peoples will feel more enslaved and resent it.

The collective responsibilities taken by the people of the hills and valley are commendable. The world will not overlook the contributions of Manipur which has its own history. The gift of Polo to the world is an example of the long history and civilization of Manipur. India should never forget that Manipur has a long history and an independent flag- The time has come for the people of Manipur to embrace our flag and never douse the spirit of freedom. This conviction and love for its motherland have been shown by Manipur people living in different parts of India and those living in other countries, and many people of Manipur sportsperson by displaying our seven colour flag in the international arena.

 The imposition to hoist of the Tri-colour in every household in Manipur to commemorate the 75 years of Indian Independence is objectionable, as the Indian flag does not define or identify the freedom of the people of Manipur. Therefore, CorCom appeals to the people of Manipur to refrain from hoisting the Indian National Flag. CorCom has been boycotting the Independence Day of India on 15 August every year. The boycott will be in effect this year also. As part of the boycott, there will be a total shutdown in Manipur on 15 August from 1:00 am to 6:30 pm. But essential services like medical, electricity, water supply, fire service, press and religious activities will be relaxed.

Kangla,

Dated. 08 August 2022

PUBLICITY COMMITTEE (CorCom)