Groups demand ‘immediate’ withdrawal of Citizenship Bill

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, January 17, 2019: Various groups today staged sit-in in different parts of Imphal demanding “immediate” withdrawal of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that was recently passed in the Lok Sabha.

Street Vendors, auto and van runners and shopkeepers serving at Khuman Lampak area of Imphal staged sit-in at Khuman Lampak shutting down their services for the day.

“We oppose the citizenship bill. The influx that would result out of the bill will swallow the original settlers of Manipur and North-East states.The bill should not be passed in the Rajya Sabha and withdraw the bill,” said Y. Indrani, leader of street vendors organisation.

If the Centre imposes the bill as law we will decide a separate Manipur, she added.

She asked why the MPs of Manipur in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha remain idle. The chief minister should give a clear stand in favour of the people’s demand and he must boldly declare that he should resign as chief minister. What he had said must be turned into practical, she added.

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh had said his government will oppose the citizenship bill until and unless a clause for exemption of Manipur and protection of the indigenous people of the state is inserted in the bill.

The state leaders should not have different statements to the central leaders and the people here, Indrani said.

Similar sit-ins were staged at Lamphel, Chingmeirong and Sagolband Tera Amudon in Imphal West district and at Checkon in Imphal East.