Democratic alliance demand special provision for NE in CAB

Pothashang News Service: Imphal October 11, 2019: Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA) says it will not support the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) for the country if the bill is implemented without adding special provision for north eastern state including Manipur.

This was stated by MDA convenor M. Tombi during a press conference here on Friday.

He said home minister Amit Shah says CAB will implemented in the country. He also mentioned that a special provision will be added for north eastern states including Manipur. If the special provision can protect indigenous rights of Manipur and north eastern state, there is no harm for implementation of CAB, he added.

Other than adding special provision if central government declared Manipur as a hill state then indigenous rights could be protected though CAB is implemented. Geographical status of Manipur is about 95 percent of the state is hilly region so Central government could announce it as a hill state, Tombi said.

Tombi said inner line permit (ILP) was implemented in Manipur during colonial rule but the then chief commissioner of Manipur, Himmat Singh abolished it from Manipur. MDA will take necessary help against abolition of ILP from Manipur, he added.

He also said the political team who went to Delhi to seek accent from President for Manipur People Bill failed to meet the President but a memorandum was submitted. The team failed to meet President as there were issues of Jammu and Kashmir and flood at some states, he added.

State government must put pressure to the central government to get accent for Manipur People Bill. The political team went for Delhi just to seek accent from President, Tombi said.

He said central government and President fails to give accent on Manipur People Bill which was unanimously resolved on the floor of Manipur Legislative Assembly as the content of the bill only implies to suppress movements from time to time. MDA will consult with civil bodies regarding the issue of CAB and will submit a memorandum to the government, he added.