Nine political parties resolve to continue agitation until withdrawal of Citizenship bill

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, January 15, 2019: Nine political parties today resolved to continue agitation until the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed in Lok Sabha is withdrawn will oppose the attempt to pass the bill in Rajya Sabha.

CPI, CPI (M); RSP; Forward Block; NCP, AAP, PRAJA, JDS and BSP took part in the convention.

State secretary, CPI, Manipur, L. Sotinkumar said chief minister, N. Biren has stated after a cabinet decision that Manipur People Protection Bill, 2018 will overcome the citizenship bill and Manipur will not be affected Manipur though the citizenship bill would affect other states of the country.

This statement was baseless as it was passed in Lok Sabha and chief minister is making people blind fold with his words, he added.

The citizenship bill was passed while Manipur is facing serious problem against influx of immigrants. If the bill turns into act massive illegal migrants will storm in the country which would mainly effects on north eastern region, he added.

CPI leader Nara said the assurance of state government regarding the bill is to build Hindu vote bank.

Recollecting the 2001 the Indo-Naga cease fire was withdrawn from extending to Manipur due to people’s movement. Similarly the citizenship bill can be withdrawn, Nara said.

The convention also demanded an emergency session and to urge the central government to withdraw the bill through the recommendation of state assembly.

PRAJA convenor Erendro Leichombam said the statement of chief minister, N. Biren which stated that the citizenship bill will not affect Manipur is misleading the people into another direction in order to suppress the rising agitation against the bill. The bill will affect every states of the country and how can the chief minister assure that the bill will not affect the state. “If this happens so then will there be a separate citizenship bill for Manipur or does the statement of chief minister mean an independent Manipur,” he added.

Once the bill turns into an Act it could bring communal between the ethnic communities as the law gives priority on Hindu. The agenda of central government is to create communal under the umbrella of the bill and to extract the resources from the region, said Erendro.

After the convention the nine political parties staged a rally towards governors’ bungalow but state police blocked the rally from the initial position (G.M. hall). The rally continued and ended after crossing western Kangla gate traffic island at the initial position.

“Down down BJP”, “Long live Manipur”, “Inquilab Zindabad” were among the slogans raised by the protestors.