Anand underscores need for protection
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 12 2016:
MLA RK
Anand has categorically stated
that the Meitei is one
community who are not given
any sort of protection by the
Constitution of India.
Speaking to media persons
after inaugurating a newly
constructed entrance gate of a
community hall at Malom
Tuliyaima Muni Urak today,
Anand said that the Meitei
community may be wiped out
from the planet if they are not
provided some sort of consti-
tutional safeguard.
The three Bills passed by
the Manipur Legislative As-
sembly on August 31 last
year was driven by the ever-
growing challenges to the
survival of all indigenous
communities of the State.
If the Government of India
has been deliberately ignoring
the three Bills which were
unanimously passed by the
State Assembly, people's re-
sentment would be irrecon-
cilable.
Anand said.
The three Bills were passed
after consulting all political
parties, civil societies and
public leaders of both the
valley and the hills.
After the Bills were sub-
mitted to the Governor, they
were forwarded to the Presi-
dent of India.
It was rather unfortunate
that the three Bills were mis-
interpreted and they were
projected in wrong light.
The last rites of the nine
people killed in the course of
public uproar against the three
Bills at Churachandpur have
not been performed till date.
The impasse could have been
resolved months back after
holding a joint meeting of the
anti-Bills protesters, JCILPs
and the State Government.
But no such meeting has been
held so far which is highly
questionable, Anand contin-
ued.
Commenting on the issue,
RK Anand said that the Gov-
ernment must take up some
concrete steps in order to re-
solve the issue rather than
buying time.
Holding protest rallies at
Delhi and other places, and
floating malicious propa-
ganda about alleged subjuga-
tion and discrimination would
not help in resolving the is-
sue.
The Government must take
up necessary steps in order to
transformed the three Bills
into Acts.
There was no difference of
opinion among MPs and
MLAs of the State when the
three Bills were passed He also questioned the acts of approaching the Centre in several
issues which were purely internal matters of the State.
People of the State should learn to trust each other, he
added.