GUWAHATI: People from different castes, creed and culture took to the streets in Imphal in Manipur on Wednesday to take part in “October Mass Rally” to affirm their united stand against the ‘threat’ posed to the territorial integrity of the state by the ‘Frame Work Agreement signed between Government of India and the Naga rebel group NSCN-IM, according to a source in Imphal.
Sources in Imphal informed that large number of people started gathering at Tiddim Ground, Imphal West District. At around 11 am, thousands of people from different communities and walks of life including students’ sportspersons, volunteers from other civil society organisation, members from other political parties voluntarily came forward to join the rally under the leadership of United Committee Manipur (UCM).
The rally started towards main Imphal city heart with leaders of UCM leading the rally. The rally than took the streets of Khwairambandh Keithel (the main market place in Imphal Town) then walk past Manipur Legislative Assembly Complex at Chingmeirong. People participating in the rally shouted slogans like: “Manipur’s territorial integrity must be protested, don’t divide Hills and Valley, we should live together, Long Live Manipur”. The rally ended at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex where a large meeting was also held.
During the meeting leaders from both hills and valley blamed that central political leaders for playing “divide and rule policy” to break the oneness and harmony in the state. They also strongly condemned the framework agreement signed between the Indian government and NSCN-IM which, they said, posed a threat to the states territorial integrity.
The meeting also agreed to stand united against any forces if they tried to break the territorial integrity of the state. Leaders of UCM in the meeting said that, if the central government and the NSCN-IM using their framework agreement as a weapon to divide the territorial integrity of the state than the organisation with the people of the state will do whatever it takes.