People must be consulted on FA: D Raja
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 30 2019: CPI general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja has categorically stated that the Government of India should consult the people of Manipur and all political parties on the Framework Agreement it signed with NSCN-IM.

He was speaking at the 123rd birth anniversary of Jananeta Hijam Irawat held today at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen under the aegis of the Irawat Celebration Committee (ICC).

D Raja also expressed strong reservation against the Central Government's refusal to divulge the details of the Framework Agreement till date.

Earlier, a life-sized portrait of Lamyanba Irawat was brought from Irawat Bhavan, BT Road to Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen in the midst of a procession.

At Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, a large number of people including CPI comrades paid floral tributes to the portrait.

This was followed by a march past contingent which was participated by 50 different contingents.

Later speaking at the gathering, D Raja noted that people of Manipur are worried as the Central Government has been keeping the details of the Framework Agreement a closely guarded secret till date.

He categorically asserted that the Central Government must ensure that the integrity of Manipur is not affected by any solution to the Naga peace talk.

Talking about Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), the CPI leader questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders' assurance to retain Article 371 which would enable the people of the North East to protect their culture and identity while pushing vigorously for CAB in the Parliament.

The BJP leaders' assurance for Article 371 and their vigorous push for CAB are contradictory and it only exposes that the BJP-led Government has been deceiving the people of the entire North East including Manipur, Raja said.

At the moment, BJP has been working to impose all over the country their 'One Nation, One Language' policy.

Moreover, BJP has been working hard to inculcate the ideas of Hindutva in young children by incorporating chapters on Hindutva in their school textbooks.

Given these trends, it would not be long before BJP advocates the idea of 'One Nation, One Party', he decried.

Establishment of an egalitarian society, protection of Manipur's identity and culture, elevation of women's status and establishment of a welfare State were some of the visions of Hijam Irawat, Raja said while appealing to all the people to work collectively towards upholding the Constitution and to protect democracy.

ICC president Dr M Nara said that the country is now facing serious challenges on account of the thrust to convert the country into a Nation of just one language and a single religion.

To tackle the disturbing situation, it is crucial for everyone to re-visit the ideas, principles and activities of Hijam Irawat, Dr Nara asserted.

The birth anniversary celebration is aimed at propagating the ideas and principles of Irawat and take the State forward, he said.

Teams had already left for Assam, Bangladesh and other places outside Manipur to celebrate the birth anniversary of Irawat.

Irawat was indisputably a champion of the mass and he is not necessarily a leader of Communist Party alone, Dr Nara said.

He also hailed the State Government for unveiling a statue of Irawat at Chingmeirong today.

CPI Manipur State Council Secretary L Sotinkumar recalled that Irawat went underground for opposing the idea of creating a Purvanchal Pradesh.

He then decried the State Government's failure to speak a single word against the Central Government's plan to pass CAB which would only open a floodgate of influx and ultimately lead to total disappearance of all the indigenous people.

It is rather unfortunate and shameful that the State Government is still unable to obtain the President's assent to the Manipur People Bill.

People of Manipur still harbour a very bitter feeling for gifting away Kabaw Valley to Myanmar (Burma) and there are reports of disappearance of border pillars along Manipur-Myanmar border which only makes the matter worse, Sotinkumar remarked.

Senior Citizens for Society Manipur general secretary Dr L Sadananda, RK Ranendrajit and CPI MSC Chairman Y Dhananjoy were also seated on the dais as presidium members.

Later, awards were distributed to some people working in different fields including RK Ranendrajit, S Sonia of Poknapham daily and social activist Sunil Karam.

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