Denouncing the diktat of separatist armed outfits, Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) urged the people of Northeast to hoist the national flag on August 15 and pay their respects to the martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices to create the sovereign nation.
The forum of nationalists issued the statement countering the boycott call of 77th Independence Day by some militant outfits of Northeast India.
“It is our primary duty to pay respect to those martyrs who laid down their lives to free us all from the clutches of British colonial forces. When many individuals and organizations go on fighting for various rights and political benefits guaranteed by the Constitution of India, they often forget to salute the Tricolour which represents the sacrifice of millions of known and unknown martyrs during the freedom movement,” said the PPFA statement.
The likes of Moje Riba, Matmur Jamoh, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakati, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Piyali Phukan, Maniram Dewan, Piyali Barua, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan Rauta, Hemoram Patar, Gunabhi Bordoloi, Thagi Sut, Balaram Sut, Sambhudan Phonglo, Beer Tikendrajit Singh, Paona Brajabashi, Tirot Singh, Shoorvir Pasaltha Khuangchera, Rani Gaidinliu, Jitendra Chandra Paul etc. from the region, who fought selflessly against the abusive imperial forces to rule India for centuries, should not be forgotten, it added.
Earlier, militant groups like ULFA (Independent), NSCN/GPRN, KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, RPF, UNLF etc called for a general strike from the midnight of August 14 till the evening of August 15. They asked the residents to keep inside their residences and avoid participating in any kind of Independence Day celebrations in the Northeast region.
Many such banned armed groups regularly direct the people of Northeast to boycott the celebrations on Independence Day or Republic Day as a mark of protests against New Delhi’s ‘colonial rule’ over the region.
“When both the houses of Indian parliament vigorously debated and unanimously expressed concern over the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur that resulted in the killing of over 180 people, destruction of many public & private properties, displacement of over 50,000 people, the armed groups of Manipur tried to reinforce their diktat on the residents,” said the PPFA statement.
