Students launch poster campaign against Citizenship bill

Pothashanh News Service: Imphal, January 18, 2019: Imphal, January 18: Protesting against passing of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 recently in Lok Sabha, joint group of six student bodies launched poster campaign today at Samu Makhong, Khwairamband market, Imphal.

The six student bodies include Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur, Kangleipak Students’ Association, Students’ Union of Kangleipak (and Apunba Irreipakki Maheirosing Singpanglup.

Students’ bodies will stand active against the bill till it is completely withdrawn, said president of MSF, Ng. Milan.

He said the campaign is being organised in advance of public discourse which is to be organised on January 20 at Centenary hall, Manipur University. He said during the discourse various civil bodies will discuss on the impact of the bill in Manipur.

Passing of the bill is humiliation of the indigenous rights of the north east India. The Centre treats the people of the region as a step-mother. The bill must not be passed in Rajya Sabha and it must be completely withdrawn.

The representatives of six students’ bodies have met chief minister yesterday at his office secretariat on the issue.

Milan said the first round talk with chief minister was not unfruitful and so the stand of the six students’ bodies will remain still till the bill is withdrawn.

Reacting against the statement of BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav that the bill would be passed in the next session of Rajya Sabha the student leader said we do not know who Ram Madhav is. “What is concerned is not to let the bill become a law,” he added.

To intensify the agitation against the bill, students’ bodies of various states of the region have communicated thoroughly and various forms of agitations will be taken up if central government sticks to pass the bill in Rajya Sabha. “If necessary demands of greater political autonomy would rise,” Milan cautioned.