Core commitee against citizenship bill hails Shyam Sharma

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, February 4, 2019: Members of ‘Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016’, a core committee of 72 civil society organisations of Manipur today hailed noted film maker and music composer Aribam Shyam Sharma for returning his Padma Shri award opposing the bill.

Shyam Sharma declared returning of the award yesterday.

Showing gratitude to this step taken up by the iconic senior citizen to dishonour the award the members of the people’s core committee presented flowers and shawl at his residence at Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai.

Ningthouja Lancha, a cultural activist and member of the core committee said, “We regard this step of dishonouring the national award by our senior intellectual as a symbolic step to inspire every national awardees in different fields in the state to show resentment against the bill.”

Disowning the award by our senior icon, giving importance to the dark future of Manipur is inspiring to our movement against the bill, Amu Kamei another member of the core committee said.

“Despite of differences among every community in the state let’s move forward together following his (Shyam Sharma) step and taking advice of the senior citizens of the state to protect the future of Manipur,” he appealed to the people.

“This bill creates hatred amongst us which can divide India. The whole of India should stand against this dangerous consequence, Shyam Sharma said.

“People in the North East region are insecure when the voices of the comparatively few MPs in the Parliament are not listened as if to dilute the small indigenous groups along with its identity and culture,” he added.

I fear that there is no future of Manipur and North East. We cannot remain silent when the President of India says to pass the bill dishonouring the voice of the people of the region. The bill should be withdrawn, Shyam Sharma said.

He appealed the senior citizens of the state “to contribute their roles in opposing the bill at this crucial juncture”.

Saying that there is need to take a strong stand for the mongoloid people, the senior citizen advised the core committee members to initiate stronger movements saying that people will win when stand united.

People continue to stage rallies in Imphal and other parts of the state opposing the citizenship bill.

Students of Imphal College today burnt the effigies of President of India, Prime Minuster and Home minister during an agitation in front of the college along the Imphal airport road.