Burning Manipur likely to be fueled by Government agenda to pass CAB; MANPAC calls 18 hours total shut down

(FILE PHOTO)
IT News

Imphal, Nov. 17

June-July syndrome of pre BJP led government in the state has been resumed in another avatar, perhaps due to the exotic climate change. Manipur is likely to face an extreme form of uncertainty in the later part of this month as the Government of India is all set to table and pass the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the upcoming Parliamentary session that will begin from November 18. Manipur People Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill , 2016 (MANPAC) an organization which has been spearheading the agitation against the introduction of CAB is all set to re-launch the agitation against it by calling 18 hours total shut down in the state.

November usually was a clam season with Sangai Festival offering joy to the people of the state, but this year it seems the prevailing situation is not going to give any chance to celebrate the most significant festival that bring peace and harmony to the state. It appeared rather as a shrewd revenge to the integrity of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who had dedicated for restoration of the peaceful atmosphere between various communities of the state. But, by whom?   

Democratic protest and voice of dissent is an essential part in the functioning of democracy. The legitimacy of the people’s democratic protest need to be acknowledge over the issue for settlement of the vex Naga issue. But if this very issue is purportedly used for free passage of CAB in the parliament then it is wrong.

The Manipur People Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill , 2016 (MANPAC)  today announced 18 hours total shutdown  starting from midnight of November 18 till 6 pm of November 19 against the passing of the contentious CAB. A statement by MANPAC said that people of the state will gather at Khwairamband Ima Keithel here in Imphal and shout slogans against the passing of the CAB. The statement also urged the 4 MPs of the state to understand the feeling of the people of the state through the state government instead of putting the blame to the general public.  

A statement by the North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP) , a federation of civil society bodies from the North Eastern states, said that they have been opposing the Bill since its introduction on January 8, 2019 as it challenges the very existence of the Indigenous People of the North Eastern Region.

On August 9, 2019, a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister had been submitted through the Head of the States followed by another submission of the same to the Chief Minister of the region on October 3, 2019 appraising therein the possible devastative effects it may cause, if the CAB has been enacted to the entire North East region.

The MANPAC said that recognizing the illegal immigrants as ‘Natural Persons’ who can acquire Indian Citizenship on the basis of religious identity runs unethical to the Constitution of India.

The NEFIP also stated that the eligibility criterion to grant citizenship to these illegal migrants besides being unreasonable and unlawful is genocidal for Indigenes of the entire NE region.

Giving shelter and providing citizenship to the so called religiously prosecuted migrants who are in fact economic labour shall adversely prosecute the Indigenous population of the entire North East region.

“Hence, the NEFIP is affirmed of the fact that accepting the legaliszation of CAB and submitting to Genocidal Act is suicidal and will lead total extinction of the Indigenous population of the entire North East”, the statement of the NEFIP said.