Protest lined up on Jan 20
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 18 2019:
Demanding the State Government to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 which was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, five student organizations of the State, namely SSUM, MSAD, AMPSUM, RSF and AMMSO have appealed to all to extend support to a peaceful protest demonstration which will be staged against the CAB on January 20 .
Speaking to media persons at SSUM office today, Furakan Makakmayum (vice president of MSAD) demanded the State Government to come out strongly against the Citizen Amendment Bill and to oppose the Bill.
The Chief Minister of the BJP led State Government must go to the National capital and urge/pressure the National party leaders to withdraw the Bill which was passed in the Lok Sabha, he demanded.
The 5 student bodies have been opposing the Bill from the beginning as it will bring demographic imbalance apart from destroying the indigenous culture, political position and economy of the region as the Bill will allow foreigners from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to become citizens of the country (except Muslim community), he said.
The act of passing the Bill in the Lok Sabha without even considering the voice of the North East people and their desire, shows that the Central Government considers the NE region as a dumping ground for illegal migrants.
The announcement by Chief Minister N Biren Singh to approach the Centre to exempt Manipur from the CAB rings hollow and illogical, he added.
Biren should speak like a true political leader by understanding the sentiments and desires of the people and he should oppose the Bill as apolitical leader of the State, the MSAD leader reasoned.
Pointing out that there is no need for CSOs/student bodies to hold a meeting with the CM at the present stage, he asked the Chief Minister to instead go to the National capital and meet with the National leaders and to strongly oppose the Bill.
Furakan Makakmayum continued that if the Chief Minister does not have the gumption to oppose the CAB in front of the party leaders/Central Government, then he should instead extend support to the movement launched by the student bodies.
He also appealed to all to extend co-operation to the peaceful protest demonstration which will be held staged over the State on January 20 .