Khwairamband Keithel shuts in protest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 18 2019: Women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel rose in protest today against the attempts of the Central Government to bring out the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2016 during the Winter Parliament Session, warning against any attempt to pass the Bill in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and turn it into an Act as well as trying to eradicate the indigenous population of the North East region.

Today, the women vendors ceased all work and staged a sit in protest against the possible introduction of CAB in the Parliament.

Speaking to media persons, general secretary of Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinfam Amadi Saktam Kunba Lup, Thingujam Rani lamented that the BJP led NDA Government is openly attempting to table the CAB during the Winter Parliament session and turn it into an Act and added that the people of the North East region is strongly against such a move.

She said that if CAB is passed, the indigenous people of the North East region will surely be wiped out of their own lands.

The Centre and the State Government have often assured the people that special provision or clause will be included for the sole purpose of protecting the indigenous people.

However, the people are still in the dark about any such clauses or provisions and it is the responsibility of the authorities to make the public aware of the same.

The people of the North East region stand strongly against CAB.

The women vendors of Ima Keithel, along with the people, will continue their protest until and unless the Government withdraws all decision concerning the Bill, she said.

On the other hand, co-convenor of Manipur Peoples Against CAB (MANPAC) and president of North East Forum for Indigenous Peoples (NEFIP), Ningthouja Lancha, said that protests/agitations against CAB have been launched in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh from today.

He continued that even if CAB happens to get passed by the Parliament, NEFIP will not back off on its protest until and unless the Bill is unconditionally withdrawn.

Ningthouja Lancha further stressed on the danger of CAB as it will enable the foreign refugees to pour into the North East region thus threatening the very existence of the indigenous people.

Many are now questioning if the CAB issue is surfacing as a means to divert the attention of the people from the issue of the Naga political solution.

However, CAB will act as the fuel to the fire as the people of Manipur have already been in a tense mood due to the Naga peace talks.

If the Centre continues to take such a genocidal step towards the indigenous people of the North East region, NEFIP will even approach the United Nations (UN) and turn this into an International issue, he warned.

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