IT News
Kakching, Dec. 27
Artists, singers, musicians, lawyers, social activists and imminent personalities protested peacefully at Kakching Keithel against Citizenship Amendment Act today. The protest started at Ibudhou Khamlangba Lai Haraofam, Kakching, with the song, “houraklo houraklo tumliba khunnai, nangi chingleibakse mee gi oikhidoure,” which a group of singers specially composed for this occasion.
The protesters marched from Ibudhou Khamlangba Lai Haraofam to Lamyanba Irabot Park at Kakching Keithel singing songs, beating langden and shouting slogans, “we oppose CAA” and “back off fascists.” They carried the banners stating “Respect indigenous existence or expect indigenous resistance” and “meeyanchagi khundalam natte, yelhoumee gi leibak ne.” Some locals, including youths and street vendors, also joined the protest and together marched on the street, expressing their strong disagreement against the CAA.
The protesters carried placards saying “Release Akhil Gogoi,” “No to Settler Colonialism, No to CAA,” “Assam Tripura gi Yehoumee na Yaifare,” in the rally which culminated at Kakching Keithel. The protesters also addressed the people of Kakching about the dangers of the newly amended citizenship act. One protester stated that “the protest is organised without the support of any student organisations or CSOs. It is completely voluntary. This spirit of voluntarism must be encouraged.” Another protester, a musician, said “this is the first time we are composing and singing protest songs. This is something very new.”
From Kakching, the protesters then moved to Khongjom and staged a protest in front of Khongjom War Memorial. The protesters chanted “We oppose CAA” and “CAA, down, down.” Later, the protesters moved to Tentha Khongban to participate in a public discourse on CAA organised by local club, meira paibi, and ningol lup of Tentha at Tentha Khongban Multiplex.
It is worth mentioning that these concerned citizens started to come out voluntarily without any organisational affiliation to break the silence that prevailed and in solidarity with the indigenous people of northeast. Earlier, these concerned citizens of Manipur had organized a series of protest at Iroishemba and Ima Keithel earlier on December 20. On the next day, District Magistrate (Imphal West) imposed IPC 144 in Imphal West for two months to prevent people from gathering and expressing their views against CAA.
