CPI sounds post Assam NRC alert
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 02 2019:
CPI Manipur State has strongly condemned the State police for trying to arrest the father of Ningthoujam Babysana, demanding the police to halt its attempt immediately.
On the other hand, it has also urged the people to remain ever alert raising the possibility that the State might experience a sudden influx of outsiders due to the NRC issue at Assam.
Speaking to media persons at Irawat Bhawan today, CPI Manipur State secretary L Sotinkumar opined that the JAC did not call the 48 hours State wide bandh to cause inconvenience to the public and instead it is the State Government which is responsible for letting issue blow out of proportion.
Instead of trying to solve the case, the authorities concerned are trying to shift the blame to the family of the deceased which is highly disappointing.
The people are voicing their opposition to the act of the authorities, he said adding that this act of playing blame game instead of acting fast and delivering justice to the deceased, is wrong on the part of the Government.
Sotinkumar pointed out that during the recent Assembly Session, CM N Biren had assured that the CBI has approached to take the case but till date there is nothing to show.
Instead, the Government is acting in an undemocratic way by foiling attempts by people to launch hunger strikes, arresting JAC members etc which will only anger the people.
On the other hand, Sotinkumar mentioned that with the updating of NRC in Assam, more than 19 lakh people settled in Assam are no longer citizens of the country.
This is a serious matter as there is a possibility that these people will start running to the surrounding States of Assam, particularly Manipur.
As such, it is imperative for the State Government to do something to curb this grave threat.
Coming to the recent announcement of the State as drought affected, Sotinkumar said that CPI is not particularly pleased with the list of locations mentioned as facing extreme water scarcity.
He explained that Lamlai area of Imphal East has been stricken with extreme water scarcity but the list does not seem to contain many locations of Lamlai at all.
Stressing on the need for a specialised survey to be carried out at that the affected areas, Sotinkumar said that if proper procedures are not followed, then the funds sent to ease the suffering of the people, mainly the farmers, will go into pockets of MLAs and Ministers.
He then said that CPI also condemns the privatisation of Indian Airlines as well as the privatisation or merger of various Nationalised banks.
On the Naga issue, Sotinkumar said looking at the recent appointment of RN Ravi as the Governor of Nagaland and the recent scrapping of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, it is very possible that the territorial integrity of Manipur might be challenged just to appease the NSCN (IM).
It is the stand of the CPI that the Framework Agreement should not affect the integrity of Manipur in any way, he cautioned.
He also reminded that CPI will fight any attempts by the BJP to implement CAB in the region.