NEIDP, NPF, MPP state opposition to CAB
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2019: Following the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha yesterday, North East India Development Party (NEIDP) and Ideal Club Tera Keithel joined hands to organise a sit in protest at Tera Keithel today.

A clay pot filled with water kept above a Yotshabi was boiled as part of the protest, which signified the terror of burning Sandrembi in the Manipuri folk tale of 'Sandrembi Chaishra' and which symbolises the current dilemma of the indigenous people.

Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the protest, NEIDP Central Working Committee vice president Elangbam Brojendro said that the party strongly condemns the CAB which was tabled and passed by the Lok Sabha, as it will have a huge negative impact in the whole North East region.

The sit in protest was staged to denounce the passing of the Bill and to demand revocation of the said Bill.

Maintaining that several student organisations and CSOs have been opposing the Bill for a long time, he added that if the Bill is enacted then the indigenous people in the North East States will be on the verge of extinction.

Conveying that the issue of NRC is prevailing in Assam in which many indigenous people were found to be not in the NRC list, he questioned why the Indian Government has passed the Bill to grant more citizenship to immigrants.

Meanwhile, extending solidarity with the people of the North East in their stand against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Naga People s Front (NPF) has assured to take concrete actions against the Bill.

NPF Manipur State Unit, general secretary Honreikhui Kasung, while speaking to The Sangai Express, stated that the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill will not only affect the basic rights of the indigenous people in the North East but also their future and existence.

He asserted that NPF is against any Bill which threatens the rights and existence of indigenous people.

Maintaining that NPF as a regional party will fight the Bill, he said that the MP of NPF will oppose the said Bill in the Rajya Sabha although it was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday.

No matter how strong the fight is, NPF will firmly stand its ground, Honreikhui Kasung asserted.

Manipur People's Party (MPP) has claimed that the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill by the BJP led NDA Government in the Centre, is an atrocity against the people of the whole North East region.

Speaking to media persons at MPP office today, its president O Jugindro said that the party totally opposes the Bill and alleged that the Bill will enable the mainland Indians to gradually wipe out the indigenous people of the North East from their own land.

Conveying that MPP will stand tooth and nail against the said Bill, Jugindro said that MPP exists for the welfare of the indigenous people and warned that if the States are not provided their rights, India's strength as a country will surely suffer in the end.

If the people are neglected, it will be impossible to bring unity and harmony.

If the Central Government fails to heed the demand of the MPP, then it would eventually lend to demand for pre-merger status for Manipur, he said.

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