Federation of Haomee picks holes in Manipur People Bill 2018, labels it more dangerous than CAB
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 07 2019: The Federation of Haomee has alleged that the Manipur People Bill, 2018, is far more dangerous than the Citizenship Amendment Bill, reasoning that the Manipur People Bill has many points which are a threat to the indigenous people.

The federation further claimed that the only way to save the indigenous people of the State will be to first identify who are the real indigenous people and to enforce Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873, adding that the federation has submitted memo in this regard to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, the president of the federation, Sapamcha Jadumani said that the Union Government is trying to produce CAB and pass it curing the ongoing Winter Parliamentary Session.

If CAB is passed, a huge protest will erupt in the State against the Bill.

Despite clear knowledge about the possibility of this unrest, the Central Government is adamant about passing the Bill.

However all is not lost just because the Bill is passed and as such, it is of utmost importance to delve into what can be done and what path can be taken to save the indigenous people, he said, claiming that the only way to save the people is to bring back BEFR, 1873- Inner Line Permit System, which was abolished by Chief Commissioner Himmat Singh on November 18, 1950.He reasoned that with the disappearance of the BEFR 1873 from Manipur, a large number of outsiders have been flooding the State continuously till date.

Jadumani continued that to protect Manipur from CAB, the Centre is proposing an ILPS for the State and added that the most appropriate system for Manipur is the BEFR, 1873.Pointing out that the Federation of Haomee is working hard to ensure that BEFR, 1873 is enacted in the State once again, Jadumani alleged that the Manipur People Bill 2018 is full of loopholes.

He claimed that the Bill give outsiders right to buy land in both the hills and valley of Manipur and explained that if the Bill is enforced as an ILPS but still allows outsiders to purchase land in the State, then it will be completely useless.

Jadumani alleged that the Bill further mentions about including Kuki and Mizo as indigenous people as well as covering Sema and Angami of Nagaland and Dhobi/Dopi, Naam Sutradar in the SC list.

There are around 56 tribes in the Kuki community and around 36 tribes under Mizo but only some are truly indigenous people.

If instead, all are included as indigenous people, then it will lead to problems later on, he claimed.

Jadumani informed that the Manipur People Bill 2018 gives rights to more than 170 communities to be called indigenous people.

If this is the case, then it will surely threaten the real indigenous people of Manipur.

As such, the Bill is even more dangerous and potent than the CAB, he expressed.

Considering all these factors, the Federation of Haomee views BEFR 1873 as the only ILPS which is best fit for Manipur and for this reason, the federation is demanding both the Central and State Governments for enacting the said system, he concluded.

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