CM chairs meeting on Citizenship bill

Pothashang News Service: 000Imphal, January 25, 2019: A meeting of ministers and MLAs chaired by Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh resolved to urge the Centre to include a provision in the body of the bill or the rules to be framed there under to the effect that the consent of the state government will be required before granting citizenship to any person.

It also resolved to urge the Centre for giving Presidential assent to the Manipur People Bill, 2018 at the earliest.

The meeting was held at the Cabinet hall of the chief minister’s secretariat today to discuss the present situation of the state arising out of the passing of Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 by the Lok Sabha recently.

 The meeting took note of the fear in the minds of people and with a view to dispel these fears, resolved to urge the Centre for implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur as had been done in Assam.

 The meeting also decided to organise awareness programmes through government functionaries in order to accurately inform and sensitize the people on the content of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 and its impact on Manipur.

The meeting also appreciated the statement of the ministry of home affairs for its assurance that without the state government’s recommendation, no one would be given Indian citizenship.