Convene Assembly session : RK Anand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 20 2019: The State needs to immediately convene an Assembly session and take resolutions opposing introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Parliament, said former MLA RK Anand today.

Speaking to media persons at his home at Kwakeithel, RK Anand said that the State is facing multiple threats in the form of Naga Peace process and Citizenship Amendment Bill.

Questioning why the MLAs are divided over the people's demand to hold a State Assembly session, he reminded the elected representatives that they are chosen by the people to safeguard the State's integrity and interests.

"People of the State have been suffering and staging protests since the Naga talks began.

In 1993, NSCN-IM formed 'Nagalim Guard' and issued 'quit notice' to communities inhabiting the alleged Naga areas to join the tribe or identify themselves as Nagas prompting conflict between communities," he said.

Convene Assembly session : RK Anand

The State Assembly took resolutions to safeguard State's integrity but the then NDA Government under the Prime Ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001 announced 'ceasefire without territorial limits' with the NSCN-IM which resulted in the June 18 incident of 2001, he recalled.

Asserting that the Centre had rubbished people's trust in the past, RK Anand said the trust deficit is the result of the 'ceasefire without territorial limits,' the Centre had announced in 2001.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Interlocutor RN Ravi should study the past June 18 incident and act accordingly to avoid a similar incident, advised RK Anand.

People will never trust the Centre unless the Prime Minister himself assures to safeguard Manipur's territorial, economic and administrative integrity, he added.

The mass movement of COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) is a much needed revolution to protect the State's integrity, he said adding that the Government should arrive at an understanding with the committee in people's interest.

As the MLAs are elected by the people, they should follow and act on people's interest and hold a State Assembly session.

The Chief Minister should take the responsibility of holding such session to take resolutions and lobby with the Centre for State's integrity and interests, he said.

In particular, the BJP MLAs should not remain silent on and there should not be any misunderstanding between the people, organisations representing the people and the State Government on the issues plaguing the State's future.

It is high time the MLAs reflect on why they were chosen by the people as representatives, he said.

The State does not have Inner Line Permit System or a similar Act to protect indigenous people.

Passing of the CAB in the Parliament before the State has an Act to preotect its people or NRC will deepen the adverse impact manifold, he asserted.

Commenting on the detention of UNLF chairman RK Meghen despite his release from Guwahati Central Jail, he said that action of the Govt agency concerned has violated human rights.

It may be mentioned that RK Anand had recently resigned from the NEIDP (North East India Development Party).

Difference of interest with the Central Working Committee of the NEIDP was the reason for his resignation.

"However, I am not retiring permanently from electoral politics," said RK Anand.

On the other hand, social activist and former candidate in Singjamei Assembly Constituency Heigrujam Nabashyam who was also present at the press meet said that the choice before the Prime Minister is to choose between an armed organisation and the public, who are the torch bearers of society.

It is up to him to decide which voice he should listen to, the armed organisation or the voice of the public, he added.

Nabashyam further said that the anxiety of the people is spilling over with one crisis after the other, and added that this is not fair to the people of Manipur.