Manipur PCC opposes Citizenship bill and appeals to protect Manipur

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, May 30, 2018: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today protested against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and demanded to protect Manipur from possible negative outcome of the peace talk between NSCN (I-M) and the government of India.

Members of MPCC  organised a protest meeting on these two issues held at the Congress office complex in Imphal. Thousands of congress members participated in protest.

Former chief minister and Manipur Congress Legislature Party leader, Okram Ibobi Singh said these two issues will burn Manipur in the near future.

He asked the central leaders and Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh to assure that the citizenship bill will not harm the populace and social structure of Manipur. If the bill, which is proposed to pass in the parliament during the monsoon session, is going to benefit Manipur it will be very fortunate for the state, but it will not benefit the people. “The bill will drown the people of people and the future generation will not forgive us if we fail to protect Manipur people from the influx of immigrants guaranteed by the bill”, said Ibobi.

Former deputy chief minister Gaikhangam said, “The bill will pave the way to swallow the less populated people of Manipur by the major communities. It will also burn India to ashes. Withdraw it immediately”, said Gaikhangam.

The talkers in the gathering supplemented that the citizenship bill will invite foreign immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to create chaos in India specially Manipur and the state in the North East as well.

The contents of Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (I-M) and the government of India has not been disclosed. The central government says there is nothing that will affect the emotional and territorial integrity of Manipur. But the interlocutor R.N. Ravi stated on national media that creation of an autonomous territorial council for Nagas would be the possible outcome of the Naga peace accord. How can a state be created within a state, asked Ibobi.

He said the NSCN in the beginning demanded for an independent Naga country, later demanded for Naga integration and now an autonomous Naga territorial council. Solution cannot be brought on community line. The Kukis are demanding a separate land. If different communities of Manipur demands a separate land or administration what would be Manipur, added Ibobi.

The gathering resolved to demand for protection of integrity of Manipur ‘territorial, administrative, financial, cultural and political’.
The meeting decided to urge the Central government and all the leaders of political parties to safeguard the interest of Manipur.

It was also decided to submit memorandum to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.