AMUCO counters Home ministry statement as double standard, appeals leaders to resign

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, January 23, 2019: All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) has reacted that the statement of the ministry of Home affairs, that foreigners would not be granted citizenship without the consent of the governments of the states where they are to be settled, is double standard.

The statement of Home ministry spokesperson Ashok Prasad is a cheating the people of the region. People will not accept that,” AMUCO general secretary Sanjoy Sorokhaibam said.

He cautioned the ministers, MLAs, MPs to resign opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 from passing it in the Rajya Sabha.

“If Rajya Sabha passes the bill people of Manipur will shower anger to the political parties ,” AMUCO general secretary Sanjoy Sorokhaibam said. He appealed the political parties to act in time before the bill becomes an Act.

He said, “We strongly condemn and oppose the recent statement of Nationa general secretary of BJP Ram Madhav that the bill will be passed in the Rajya Sabha. His statement was a mockery to the people of the North East.”

 “The bill passed against the people in the Lok Sabha should be withdrawn and it should not be passed in the Rajya Sabha,” he added.

Ashok Prasad said the mistaken perception in the North-East about the Bill is creating insecurities. The Bill doesn’t give automatic citizenship to anybody. No one will become a citizen overnight. “His statement is an attempt to suppress people’s movement,” said Sanjoy.

Sanjoy was talking to mediapersons at New Chekon Youth Club ground where a rally was organised demanding immediate withdrawal of the citizenship bill.

Rallis opposing the citizenship bill were also organised in different parts of the state.

MSF president Ng. Milan said, “The immature statement of the ministry of the home affairs cannot stop our movement against the bill. Instead, it has ignited us.”

He said All Manipur Students’ Union, Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur, Kangleipak Students’ Association, Students’ Union of Kangleipak and Apunba Irreipakki Maheirosing Singpanglup set to organise a protest rally on January 30 in Delhi to oppose from passing the bill in Rajya Sabha.

It was decided as the voice of the people and students raised to oppose the bill has not been listened.

Another student group of Manipuri Students’ Association Delhi, Socialists’ Students’ Union Manipur, Reformists Student Front, All Meitei Pangal Students’ Union Manipur and All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organisation has claimed that they will take up mass protest in Maniur on the day the bill is tabled in the Rajya Sabha.

The group said they appreciate the declaration of student unions to boycott the Republic Day celebration in the state.