Defying all odds, including a boycott call by some armed militant outfits, the people of far eastern Bharat celebrated the 76th Republic Day unfurling the Tri-colour paying homage to the known and unknown martyrs of India’s Freedom Movement against the colonial British forces. Resentments against the governments in respective State capitals as well as in New Delhi, anti-India rhetoric and even the diktats from separatist militants could not deter in joining the celebrations aspiring for a powerful nation, which is definitely a Biswa Mitra (if not immediately can emerge as Biswa Guru), a guiding light for the human race with its legacy, culture and environment-friendly natures. The auspicious occasion passed peacefully except some unfounded reports of bomb blasts in the prehistoric city of Guwahati, which the authorities had out rightly rejected. Many areas of Imphal valley in Manipur looked deserted as the marketplaces were closed and a few people seemingly came outside their residences on 26 January 2025.
As the Kartavya Path in the national capital witnessed a series of events showcasing the military might of Bharat along with the vibrant cultural heritage in the gracious presence of President Droupadi Murmu and her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, the respective Governors, chief ministers and other lawmakers across the country unfurled the national flag at the State capitals. Most of the north-eastern States accorded the spirit of democracy, integrity and patriotism even though alerted with the anti-national statements issued by north-eastern armed insurgents who have been waging a war against New Delhi for various homelands.
The militant groups, who once unanimously dictated the residents to boycott R-Day and Independence Day functions, have now split to different factions even in urging the people to avoid the celebration. Manipur-based six banned outfits under the banner of ‘Coordination Committee’ called for a total shutdown on 26 January starting from midnight to 6 pm to boycott any celebration related to R-Day. The outlawed organizations namely Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, PREPAK-Pro, Revolutionary People’s Front, and United National Liberation Front also criticized New Delhi to convert Manipur into ‘a militarized state’ and nurturing ‘proxy insurgency’ to divide & suppress the voice of indigenous people. In a separate statement, another banned outfit named Socialist Revolutionary Party Kangleipak imposed a shutdown on Sunday from 4 am to 5 pm asking the people to boycott the celebrations in Manipur.
On the other hand, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland and the United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) called for boycotting relevant functions in Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, where they imposed a general strike from 1 am to 6 pm on Sunday. Opposing the ‘colonial Indian Republic Day’, the outfits asked all political & non-political, community organizations and freedom-aspiring people to refrain from attending any celebration during the period. However, essential services like healthcare, electricity, fire-brigade, water supplies, media, etc were exempted from the shutdown. Following the reports of two blasts, ULFA (Independent) chief Paresh Baruah even claimed responsibility for the action asserting that they had no intention to harm anyone but only wanted to prevent local people from participating in the R-Day programs.
Denouncing the boycott call by the militant outfits, the nationalist citizens appealed to everyone to observe the R-Day unfurling the Tri-colour in both individual and community level celebrations. Assam Guv Lakshman Prasad Acharya unfurled the flag and paid tributes to the martyrs. In the trouble-torn Manipur, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla unfurled the national flag. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale also unfurled the Tri-colour in Imphal West locality, where he emphasized on nurturing the unity and responsibilities among the citizens of Bharat. Focusing on 75 years of enactment of the Constitution, Hosabale opined that every Bharatiya should strengthen and develop the nation not only a responsibility but a fundamental duty too. Reciting the story of Lord Ram, who sacrificed his fundamental right to the throne in Ayodhya with an aim to fulfill fundamental duty by accepting a 14-year exile, exemplifies the precedence of duty over rights.
Probably it’s time for many agitating Assamese individuals, who always raise voices in support of demands, but remain reluctant to pay homage to the martyrs.