Instead of understanding the peoples’ worry about the impact of Contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2019, which is all set to pass in the ongoing session of the Lok Sabha, Manipur government and supporters of the BJP are making all effort to change the mindset of the people. Spokesperson of the government of Manipur, who is also the Education Minister of Manipur Th. Radheshyam strongly advocated the passing of the CAB categorically stating that the provisions in the Bill which is in the way to convert into act is not going to effect the state of Manipur. He justified his statement on the ground that as of now Manipur don’t have illegal Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Christian, and Buddhist migrants in the state. And that the provisions of the CAB only said that those religiously persecuted or fear of being persecution belonging in the said religions in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have been migrated to the country and that too before 2014 December. As of now Manipur don’t have such migrants and Manipur don’t have to worry about it, a strong and straight forward response which seems to lack the consequences in the near future of Manipur which have no legislations to protect the state.
Interestingly, the same statement in defence of CAB has also been circulated widely in the form of pamphlet without mentioning the authority of name of any organization since yesterday. If the government spokesperson is having full confidence that Manipur will not be affected by the CAB, then such pamphlets distributing should be published by the government. If the pamphlets are being circulated by some vested interested group then instead of convincing the people it will create more apprehension as it is natural that it will be no difference from pouring fuel to the anger to the people agitating against the passing of CAB.
Yes, as for the Imphal Times, we feel that Government Spokesperson Th. Radheyam’s speculation on CAB is no wrong. Those immigrants that the CAB is talking about are nearly non-existence. What the state of Manipur is facing about is about (illegal) migrants who influx to the state by having proper documents to prove themselves as citizen of India. Under Article 21 of the Indian constitution, these immigrants have every right to enter the state of Manipur and the government of Manipur still has no legislation to check this kind of infiltration. State government attempt to frame legislation for protection of the indigenous people by passing Bill in the state Assembly is of no use till today as even the Manipur Peoples’ Protection Bill is still pending as the president of India is yet to give its assent.
As of now, we all knows that whoever entered the state are not entrepreneurs which want to expand its business in the state, but those entered in the state are migrant workers and casual labourers who live on hand to mouth. The problem being face by the people of the state is the influx of this migrants having document to prove themselves as Indian.
19 lakhs people in Assam have been cancelled citizenship as they are illegal immigrants in the state of Assam. And as per the statement of the Government it is likely that among the so many people only few (Muslim) will be deported (can’t say where, as no assurance of accepting them by Bangladesh Government has been made public). Many will become citizens of the country. Similarly, many more will be granted citizenship in state like West Bengal, Bihar etc. If these people from the three countries are granted citizenship and entered the state of Manipur, what will be the future of Manipur? It is common sense that the migrant will first look for jobs (labour) and Manipur is a place where these people will keep priority for settling.
So CAB is a legislation that will add double the problems of the people of the state.
A request the Government of Manipur is that supporting the CAB may get some blessing from the leaders for today, but if it gives multiple problems to the near future, future generation to blame your leadership may not even exist. Act like leader of Manipur and not a mere workers of the central leaders.
