Left parties question
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 05 2019: Labelling the present State Government as the most powerless Government, CPI Manipur State Council has questioned why the State Government is not even trying to convene an emergency State Assembly Session and take a concrete stand concerning the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and the Naga Framework Agreement issues, before the Winter Parliamentary session concludes.

Speaking to media persons at Irawat Bhawan today, CPI MSC State secretary L Sotinkumar alleged that the consultative meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah with the stakeholders and political parties of Manipur before bringing out CAB in the Parliament, was a sham.

As the Union Cabinet has already cleared the CAB, the Bill will come out in the Parliament soon.

The Bill will get passed in Parliament.

The Bill will also be given the green light in the Rajya Sabha, Sotinkumar conveyed.

Expressing disappointment at the State Government for its lack of commitment and power even at such a critical time, the CPI MSC State secretary questioned the logic and reasoning of the State Government's plan to convene a State Assembly on December 18, as the Winter Parliamentary session concludes on December 13.Stressing on the need for taking a strong resolve against CAB and any impact on the State as a result of the Naga peace talks, Sotinkumar said that the Chief Minister's argument for calling the State Assembly session on December 18 is unsatisfactory.

Accusing the BJP of fooling the people and taking them for a ride, Sotinkumar alleged that all these are attempts by the BJP to implement CAB in the region, as well as harm the integrity of the State as a fall out of the Naga pact.

CAB is an anti-secular and anti-Constitutional Bill designed to further the BJP's vision of a Hindu Rashtra.

All the North East States will be affected by the Bill, with Manipur bearing the full brunt, Sotinkumar claimed adding that if this becomes a reality, then the indigenous people will rapidly go extinct in their own land.

Stating that CPI is extremely disappointed with the antics of the Central Government, he said that CPI MSC will call an emergency meeting of the Party Secretariat, State Executives and mass fronts and take a resolution to launch intense agitation against the CAB and the possible impact to Manipur as a result of the FA.

CPI will stand firm against any attempt to harm the indigenous people or the integrity of Manipur, he assured.

Cautioning the BJP that the people of the North East region might boycott it, Sotinkumar said that the people of Manipur might even decide to not allow even a single Central Minister to come into the State.

CPI assistant secretary M Joykumar Luwang was also present in the meet.

CPI (M) has also strongly come out against CAB labelling the Bill as being against the spirit of Indian democracy and Constitution.

A statement issued by the secretary of CPI (M) Manipur State Committee conveyed that the party will use Parliamentary and extra-Parliamentary methods to oppose the Bill and maintained that when the draft Bill was first brought out in 2016 and referred to the Joint Select Committee of both Houses of the Parliament, CPI (M) gave a dissent note to the Committee.

The note, which was submitted by then Lok Sabha MP Md Salim, on January 3, highlighted that the Bill must be withdrawn as it is violative of the fundamentals of the Indian Constitution, it added.

Explaining that the Bill is not just a mere change in the statute but is a law that will fundamentally alter the character of the Indian republic, CPI (M) appealed to the people of Manipur in general and like minded political parties and CSOs in particular to remain vigilant on the outcome of CAB.

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