IT News
Imphal, June 13:
A collective of all the five Tangkhul Naga apex bodies have slammed the Chief Minister for his remarks on land ownership terming it as “callous and un-informed” and warned that it is unacceptable and should be withdrawn immediately.
The collective press communiqué signed by David K Shimray, President, Tangkhul Naga Long; SA Ramnganing, President, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long; Thingreiphi Lungharwo, President, Tangkhul Shanao Long; Shimri Raising, President, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong and Somatai Machinao, President, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long stated, “This Press Statement has been necessitated following the front-page reportage on ‘The People’s Chronicle’ of 6th June, 2022, where two articles are juxtaposed besides each other – ‘COCOMI, UNC demand NRC, Population Commission’, and, ‘CM Biren resents claim of land ownership in hill areas’. In Clause (B) of Section 2 of the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 (PMP Bill) passed by the Manipur Assembly on 31/08/2015, ‘Manipur People’ is defined as ‘persons of Manipur whose name are in the National Register of Citizens, 1951, Census Report 1951 and Village Directory of 1951 and their descendants who have contributed to the collective social, cultural and economic life of Manipur’. By this definition, many people of the Hills would not qualify for inclusion in the NRC. Proper census was not maintained in the Hills, least of all in 1951. Also, Sections 14A (1) inserted in 31/08/2015, after section 14 of the Principal MLR and LR Act of 1960, states: ‘Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, Non-Manipur persons, firms, institutions or any other similar entities who intend to purchase any land in the State of Manipur shall submit an application to the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned where the land to be purchased is situated for obtaining the prior approval of the State Government before such purchase is made by him.’ In other words, anyone (be they from ‘mainland India’ or the Hills of Manipur) can buy land in the Valley (the Principal MLR and LR Act, 1960 does not extend to the Hills so Section 14 (1) does not apply to the Hills) provided he/she desirous of buying that land procured necessary approval from the State Government.”
“The Hills of Manipur, on the other hand, does not permit any non-indigenous person to buy/acquire land – be they from the Valley, ‘mainland India’ or Tribals from other States of India. Article 371C guarantees us this right” it clarified.
The press communiqué further explained , The 2nd Schedule of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 expressly puts land and land use of the hills under the exclusive purview of the Hill Areas Committee. All these measures have been put in place from the colonial times of the British through to the astute Central leadership of the Union of India, in order that the Tribals in the Hills not be alienated from their land. This is not for greed or material requirements but to preserve a relationship which is hallowed.
The collective statement warned “The callous and un-informed remarks of the Chief Minister of Manipur. N Biren Singh, as put out by the DIPR, ‘…not lay claims of ownership of hills as they belong to the Mother Nature and not to any particular community,’ is unacceptable and should be withdrawn immediately.”
