Imphal in protest against citizenship bill

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, January 29, 2019: Imphal today witnessed series of protest rallies opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with a major gathering of women vendors at Ima Market organised by Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MPACAB).

MPACAB is core committee formed by 66 organisations in Manipur at a public convention held yesterday, organised by All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation, Committee of Civil Society Kangleipak, Ethno Heritage Council and League of Indigenous People Upliftment.

Vendors of all the four women markets stopped vending showing solidarity against the citizenship bill. Shops at both sides of Khwairamband Martket at Thangal Bazar and Paona Bazar were shut down during the gathering.

Ningthouja Lancha an executive member of the core committee said, “The passing of the bill is like declaration of war against the people of the North East. We have formed the committee to fight against this colonial legacy. It is an invasion already quoted by the Supreme Court in 2005. The court has termed the bill as an act of aggression against the people of the region. We are requesting the Union government and the state government to withdraw the venomous bill from the Lok Sabha and not to table it in the Rajya Sabha. If they fail to listen to the sentiments and aspirations of the indigenous people of the North East and especially Manipur we will take a resolution with our people to distinct.”

Yesterday we declared a 24-hour general strike starting from January 30 midnight. During the strike there will protest rallies, sensitisation meetings and on the next day of the strike we have a people’s convention to take a decision about the future of Manipur, Lancha added.

United Committee Manipur president Sunil Karam said, “The already imbalanced demographic structure of the NE should not be turned into a dumping ground of illegal immigrants. The central government should positively regard the mongoloid race. If not the whole of North East will raise a united voice against the government of India. Manipur government and all the governments of the North East states must have a clear stand against the bill.”

Organised by Thangmeiband United Club, a conglomeration of clubs in Thangmeiand people staged sit-in rallies at different corners in Thangmeiband. Film Forum Manipur also staged protest rally at Keishampat condemning the passing of the bill and opposing it to pass it in the Rajya Sabha.