Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 26 2009:
In the wake of the global economic crisis, it is a crucial question that confounds every people that what should be done to free "ourselves from the trap of the colonial economy" under which the people of Manipur are being repressed and gagged for a prolonged period.
Observing that one kilogram of rice now costs Rs 22 under administration of the Government of India, the outfit questioned whether this is a result of decrease in the crop yield of the State's farmers.
Recalling that crop produces were not only sufficient for the State's domestic consumption but also constituted the mainstay of the State's self-sufficient economy during its prime years as an independent kingdom in South East Asia, Chaoren lamented that Manipur has now become economically so dependent that people think they cannot live without India feeding them.
The past saying that "a year's harvest was enough for two years consumption" is now only a folk-tale, the chief noted.
However, since the day India allegedly annexed Manipur against all international norms, the Government of India has been pursuing a sustained plan to usurp all wetlands of Manipur thereby gradually shrinking agricultural land.
Large tracts of fertile agricultural lands have been acquired by the Government in the name of development/modernisation projects.
Wanton destruction of forest in hills thereby slowly turning the land into a desert and rampant acquisition of land for human habitation and construction of offices, houses and hopeless industrial complexes are a ploy of the Government of India to make Manipur dependent on the "colonial economy".
Even as the "so called political leaders" of Manipur are aware of these diabolic designs, they have been acting as if they don't anything about the whole plan, Chaoren stated.
These leaders were least concerned when the paper mill having all the potential to thrive was shifted from Manipur to Assam while hoodwinking people by setting by Khansari Sugar Mill and Spinning Mill etc which were all doomed to fail.
All these are part of the Government of India's policy of colonial economy, the RPF chief asserted.