No to forced demographic invasion: IPSA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 25 2015:
International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) said that it is closely observing the voice of opposition raised by some people from Jiribam on the demand to make 1951 as the cut-off base year to determine indigenous people of the State.
In a statement, IPSA president Chingkhei Luwangcha said that the overt anti-Kangleipak rhetoric, slogans, activities including economic blockade from Bengali and Bengali Muslims at Jirighat on August 23 was happening due to the absence of ILPS or similar law in the State to regulate influx of migrants into the State.
The Jiri meeting yesterday reflects the urgency to formulate and implement a legislation to protect the indigenous people of the State from the sea of migrants.
People of the State are standing firm with the people of indigenous people residing in Jiribam, IPSA said while adding that any excesses from the part of the outsiders would be faced by the people of the State with all mights.
IPSA is highly suspicious that the leaders of the Jiri meeting migrated to the State only after 1951.It would be more sensible if the non-indigenous people choose to remain as migrants after realising that they are not indigenes to the land.
Leaders of the Jirighat meeting should realise that their attempt of forced demographic invasion on people of the land would not be a reality until that time the sun sets in the East.
ILPS will not restrict outsiders' stay in Kangleipak, but it is to be noted that they can never enjoy equal status with the indigenous people.
People of Kangleipak cannot be threatened with economic blockade.
Kangleipak was a self sufficient land and it would remain so.
The land will remain self sufficient without exotic products and items.
Through the stages of history, people of the land had never any trade relations with the West and it can do without it.
IPSA is also deeply suspicious of the involvement of Jiribam AC MLA and Revenue Minister Th Debendra in the large presence of migrants population in Jiribam.
It accused the MLA of providing settlement to migrants and enrolling their names in the electoral lists without verifying their antecedents and place of origins with the sole aim of getting their favour during elections.
It was only due to this factor that the outsiders have the courage to speak against the popular movement of the people openly.
As such, the MLA has a great role to play to overcome the issue of migrants.
Non-Manipuris who settled in the State before 1951 will be considered and accepted as Non-Manipuri people domicile.
Those migrating to the State after 1951 can be allowed to stay only under a regulation after identifying them.
Identification of outsiders had begun long in Assam.
Manipuris living in Assam had come to collect relevant documents here.
There is no illegitimacy to identify outsiders in Manipur too in order to protect indigenous people of the State.
The State deserves cooperation and assistance from neighbouring States in doing so, IPSA said.
It urged the Bengali and Bengali Muslims of Cachar, Assam to reconsider any anti-Manipur activities from their land.
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