JAC on Anti-Tribal Bills extends gratitude, alleges state govt. of playing ‘communal’ card

Imphal, May 19: The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills has extends gratitude to tribal people of ‘present Manipur’ for their support and cooperation in the 48-hours total shutdown of all tribal territories called by the JAC from the midnight of May 16 to the midnight of May 18.
“The communal attitude, discriminatory policies and prejudiced mind of the Manipur government becomes more evident with each passing day. A brief two-month agitation in the valley resulting in a special session of the Manipur State Assembly passing the three anti-tribal bills on August 31, 2015, and a 3-day agitation in the valley for pressurizing the Union Government to give the President’s assent led to an All Political Party Meeting that resolved to send a delegation to voice the concerned of the valley people,” said a release from the Information and Publicity Department of the JAC.
However, the Manipur Government has still chosen to turn a blind eye to the 261-days-old tribal movement in the hill/tribal territories till date and even refuses to call a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly to deliberate on JAC’s charter of demands in spite of request made by JAC. The “ethical and communal Manipur government” continues to undermine the cries of the tribal people till today, added the release.
Further it also said reiterated that the 3-Bills are political in nature- The Protection of Manipur People Bill for ‘Identity Politics’; The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Bill for ‘Politics of Land’ and The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill for ‘Politics of Economy and Livelihood’-  and have nothing to do with the Inner Line Permit System.
The JAC also appealed media houses in the state to “refrain from misleading the public by wrongly projecting and publicizing these three anti-tribal bills as ILPS Bills and creating unnecessary confusion in the minds of the general public.”