Public meet held on co-existence
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 09 2015:
A public meeting on promoting peaceful co-existence amongst all the indigenous communities of Manipur was held today at Ching Tam Community Hall, Sugnu.
The meeting was jointly organised by the United Peoples Administrative Council (UPACO), National Identity Protection Committee (NIPCO), Thoubal Ima and Meeyamgi Thoudang Club (MTC), Sugnu.
Thoubal Ima vice-president Elangbam Ibecha, M Monpi village chief and Haokip People's Council ex-president Ngamkhulet Haokip, Makhao Tampak village chief Konthang Haokip and Moirangthem Babuchand of Sugnu attended the meeting as presidium members.
JCILPS convenor Khomdram Ratan and UPACO advisor Tekcham Rameshwor were the main speakers of the meeting.
They spoke at length on how Manipur's political and socio-economic condition degenerated to the extreme after the controversial merger with the Indian Union, and how artificial lines of division were drawn among different ethnic communities.
They also highlighted the demographic imbalance caused by incessant influx and its implications.
The speakers categorically stated that the PMP Bill 2015 is meant to protect not only Meiteis but all indigenous communities of the land.
The three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31 do not impinge upon the rights and interests of hill people in any manner, Khomdram Ratan said.
The MLR&LR (7th Amendment) Bill 2015 seeks to protect the Manipur valley, the home of both hill people and plain people, from outsiders.
T Rameshwor asserted that the hill people and the plain people share common genealogy.