MANEI clarifies misleading reports
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 13 2015:
Taking strong exception to the misleading and biased reports published in media across the North Eastern region in connection with the mass movement for enforcement of ILPS or a similar mechanism in Manipur and the three Bills passed subsequently, the Manipur Association, North East India (MANEI) has set the record straight.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, MANEI president Potsangbam Sonamani said that they came across media reports published in different languages in Assam which said that non-Manipuris were assaulted and expelled from Manipur in the course of the pro-ILPS movement.
Taking serious note of the false and inflammatory reports, a press meet was held at Guwahati Press Club recently and it was clarified there was no case of harassment or expulsion of non-Manipuri people from Manipur.
The same clarification was carried in different newspapers the next day.
MANEI believes in peaceful co-existence of all indigenous as well non-indigenous people living in Manipur and this was conveyed to the media based outside the State.
Sonamani then appealed to the Chief Ministers of two neighbouring States who openly censured the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015, the MLR&LR (7th Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (2nd Amendment) Bill 2015 to refrain from such undue meddling in the internal affairs of Manipur.
The three Bills do not harm the interest of hill people.
Even if it is thought that Bills impinge upon the rights and interests of hill people, necessary modifications and corrections can be made.
Meddling in the internal affairs of a neighbouring while overlooking their own problems is rather contemptible.
They must not forget that similar regulations are in force in their respective States.
Sonamani then questioned the complete silence of constitutional experts and political stalwarts on enforcement of similar influx regulatory mechanism in some States like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
MANEI established in 2013 is a common platform for Manipuris settled in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.