Imphal: The proscribed militant outfit People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) has called for a total boycott of the Manipur Statehood Day celebrations scheduled for January 21, 2026.
The boycott call comes ahead of the 54th Manipur Statehood Day, even as Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla extended warm greetings and best wishes to the people of the state, emphasising unity, development, and the restoration of peace.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, PREPAK urged the general public to boycott the celebrations, claiming that the merger of Manipur with India and its subsequent attainment of statehood led to the “marginalisation” of the region.
The outfit alleged that the Union of India annexed Kangleipak (Manipur) in 1949 and later forcibly integrated it as the 19th full-fledged state of India on January 21, 1972. It further claimed that despite being granted statehood, Manipur has not witnessed meaningful progress or justice to date.
Terming the Statehood Day celebrations “meaningless,” PREPAK alleged that India has failed to safeguard the history, culture, and economy of Kangleipak (Manipur).
The outfit also accused India of pursuing a “divide and rule” policy that has fuelled ethnic conflicts in the state. It alleged that central security agencies have neglected the region’s security and failed to prevent what it described as the “Indianisation” of the state.
Additionally, PREPAK criticised the Central Government for what it termed ineffective border management, particularly along the India–Myanmar border, which it described as a hotspot for narcotics trafficking.
In its statement, PREPAK called upon the public to remain united and engage in collective resistance against policies it claimed undermine the state’s autonomy.