Solidarity to those agitating against Citizenship Amendment Act

15th December, 2019

A good and decent government should have the ability to take criticisms surrounding it and counter the voices with the best policies. Action speaks louder than words. The big hollow claims of being elected legislators do not mean people cannot criticize them, their policies and actions. It cannot imply that the government always stands saner than the dissenting voices. An elected government is the representation of its people.

It is a well known fact that CM Biren cannot tolerate dissenting voices. He has been misusing the conferred power to subjugate the opposing voices. People have the voices but he has the jail for those against him.

The recent arbitrary arrests of volunteers of AMSU and other protestors against the passing of Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 add up to his “Despotism Diary”. MSAD condemns the arrests and demands for the immediate release of them. The CM must know the volunteers agitating against the CAB are of no self interests rather than the interest of safeguarding Manipuris including him and his family members. At the same time, people of Manipur realize his position of inability being a puppet of Delhi.

CM Biren is no less than a comedian and he himself is a big hypocrite. Knowing his efforts, to resist the CAB 2019 from passing, miserably failed in front of his masters, he sent out his Ministers and spokespersons to propagandize the goodness of the bill. BJP Manipur used its full strength to extend support in passing the Bill. Even the four BJP MPs voted in support of the bill while their homes were burning. After all, recognizing the people emotions and intentions, CAA was finally not extended to Manipur. Then, coming out like a saint, BJP sponsored celebrations were held for not extending the Act and for implementing ILP to take the whole credit of the scene. This is absolute populism and madness.

How can a government supporting the bill, which recently became an act, with all its available resources celebrate for not extending the Act to Manipur? If the BJP government is against CAA, why are there continuous arrests of agitators who are discontent with the implementation of the Act in neighboring States? We condemn this double standard and hypocrisy in the strongest term.

MSAD also condemns the CM’s threatening statement of arresting and lodging FIRs against those who protest, agitate and oppose the government as he is more patriotic than any other. In other words, he and his policies cannot be doubted. MSAD considers violence is what the government uses against the people’s will through its policies, laws and available repressive state apparatus. We are compelled to remind him that he is not a God chosen apostle though chosen by the fascists in Delhi and elected by the people.

MSAD strongly condemns the irresponsible act of four MPs for voting in support of the CAB 2019. We also demand the rationale behind it. And we announce the boycott of the irresponsible MPs of Manipur for playing with the sentiments of NE people.

MSAD stands in solidarity to those who are agitating against the Citizenship Amendment Act in every corner of North Eastern States. We also extend our sincere condolences to the departed souls in the struggle.

The silence of CSOs and Organisations, which were leading the agitations against the CAB before it became CAA, is indeed a matter of great shock and condemnation. It is the non-recognition of the people’s struggle against occupation. The struggle is not about what India can do for us but about showing what we can do for ourselves without the context of Indian Civilizations.

No doubt, the status of Inner Line Permit System has no edge to protect us from demographic invasion, ethnic cleansing and cultural invasion. We are already pluralistic as much as India is and we are satisfied with that. Alternatively, the ILPS will legitimize more influxes with Indian identities with passes and eventually people will lose their struggle against the non-Manipuris as the onus resides only with laws.

We call out all the responsible citizens of Manipur, stakeholders, student organisations and any other ethno-religious groups to come out in defiance of this anti-indigenous Bill. The dance in the Government drumbeats will resort us to guillotine.

K. Javed Mehedi
General Secretary
Manipur Students’ Association Delhi