Imphal, October 11 2009: As in the past nine years, the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF) would be observing National Black Day on October 15 to show their disapproval of the alleged annexation of Manipur by India on this day sixty years back.

A press release issued by the MPLF's permanent body said that a general strike would be imposed from 1 am till 5.30 pm of October 15 all over Manipur.

The MPLF appealed to the people not to venture out on roads either on foot or vehicles during the general strike.

It also asked for suspension of sports activities, entertainment programmes including screening of movies as well as all business activities.

However medical, media and religious functions would be exempted from the purview of the general strike.

Asserting that the people of Manipur opposed the Manipur Merger Agreement signed by the king of Manipur on September 21, 1949 under house arrest and duress, the MPLF alleged that as per the deceitful Merger Agreement, Manipur was annexed to the Dominion of India on October 15, 1949 .

It further appealed to the people to observe the National Black Day collectively to show to the whole world that "we are not Indians, Manipur was never a part of India and it would never be in future too".

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