People’s Protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Manipur & Nagaland

| SANJOO THANGJAM, IMPHAL - 10 Feb 2019

Women Market Shut For A Day To Protest Against The Contentious Bill

By Sanjoo Thangjam, Imphal Correspondent

Imphal, February 10, 2019; Under the aegis of Manipur People Amendment Bill 2016 MANPAC the mothers (Emas) staged protest at Khwairamband Keithel in the heart of the Imphal City as a part of the indefinite on road mass against CAB.

Convenor of MANPAC Phundreimayum Abdullah appealed the people to be ready to fight as the bill will possibly be passed at Rajya Sabha.

He also said that the law enforcement agency should know that the people have the right to protest and is entitled in the Constitution.

He further said that the government should withdraw the bill and not only that they should initiate a similar policy like NRC to identify and deport illegal migrants from the state.

Abdullah further condemned the racist policy of the Indian government to genocide the indigenous population of the state.

Speaking at the protest DESAM’s advisor Moirangthem Angamba said that “the people need to boycott the election as there is no use of the elected legislature who acted as a silent spectator during this crucial juncture of the state.”

He also added that every individual should unite to fight until the contentious CAB is withdrawn from the parliament.

“We should not be afraid to die if we want to live and let our future generation prosper”, added Angamba.

Earlier police personnel foil the protest organised at Singjamei Keithel.

Similar protest of the indefinite on road mass agitation was also done at various places by blocking half of the road.

People of Takyel Khongbal, Khongman Zone five, Thongju, Huidrom leikai, Khurai lamlong and Porompat by Saina Institute of Medical Sciences also protested supporting the protest of MANPAC.

Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath and Chief minister N.Biren were also burnt down by the people of Tera, and the effigies were also burnt by the six students bodies at Yairipok and also students of Manipur College burnt the effigies at Manipur college gate.

Slogans to withdraw Citizenship Amendment Bill and Down Down BJP Government filled the air at various protest site.

Teachers' Body urge the govt.to discuss CAB in the assembly

Meanwhile in Nagaland, the Nagaland University Teachers’ Association (NUTA) has urged the state government to discuss the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the State Assembly Session and claimed that Article 371 (A) will not able to protect the state from the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).

In a representation addressed to the chief secretary, the Central Executive Council of NUTA president Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu and secretary general Prof. D Kuolie stated that CAB is logically an amendment of the ‘Passport (Entry into India)’ for a uniform code of rule in the country. It is a ‘semantic shift’ intending to have a more forceful impact in the implementation pact.

The association pointed out that Nagaland is protected by the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India but its specification/provision has been clearly stated. Nagas will, thereby, automatically fall within the concept/term of ‘Indian national’ which Naga political history has not demanded till date, it said. The teachers added that if CAB becomes a law of the nation, the standing protective law mentioned above for the Nagas, will summarily be overruled, or become secondary because of the fact that CAB contains no provision to safeguard ILP or Article 371 (A).