Why depute Ministers to play down CAB: CPI
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 19 2019:
At a time when the Chief Ministers of other North East States are strongly opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, even threatening to withdraw their support to the NDA Central Government if the Bill is passed, it is extremely disappointing to see Chief Minister N Biren Singh sending his Ministers to try and sideline the apprehension of the people by claiming that the Bill will not impact the people, said CPI Manipur State Council secretary L Sotinkumar today, demanding the CM to resign from his post as he is not fit to serve the people.
He made the statement during a sit in protest which was staged at Irawat Bhavan today, under the aegis of CPI Manipur State Council, against any impact to the State due to the Naga peace talks as well as opposing the CAB.
Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the protest, Sotinkumar said that in other States of the North East region, their Chief Ministers are taking a strong stand against the Bill by vehemently opposing any decision to introduce and pass/implement it in any form.
The CM of Arunachal Pradesh called a Cabinet meeting and took a strong stance against the Bill along with the people.
Meghalaya's CM threatened to withdraw support from the NDA Government if the Bill is passed.
The CMs of Mizoram and other States also reacted strongly against the Bill.
However, shockingly, Chief Minister N Biren Singh is content with sending his Ministers to calm the people by making unbelievable assurances that the Bill will not affect Manipur in anyway.
Such an undignified and unfit CM should resign, Sotinkumar demanded.
He continued that if the Bill is passed, the indigenous people will be reduced to a minority in their own homeland, explaining that foreigners from countries like Bangladesh, Afghanistan etc will begin to flood the North East region thus leading to the gradual extinction of the indigenous people.
Inner Line Permit or ILP System is present in States like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland but in the case of Manipur, the State is a safe haven for illegal foreigners to settle.
This is the main reason why the people of Manipur have been demanding implementation of ILP immediately.
Due to public pressure, Manipur People Bill was passed by the State Assembly but it is still awaiting assent from the President of India.
At such a critical juncture, it is condemnable that the leaders of the State are always acting according to the whims and fancies of the Central leaders instead of acting in the interest of their people, Sotinkumar lamented.
He then claimed that resignation of CM Biren will have only positive impact when it comes to preventing CAB from being passed.
On the other hand, Sotinkumar announced that CPI Manipur State Council has also decided to boycott the coming Sangai Festival in light of the tense situation due to the Naga political issue and CAB, further appealing the public to refrain from participating in the festival as well.
He then assured that CPI, Congress, JD(U) and NPP will unite against any attempt to pass the CAB during the Winter Parliament session.
It is critical to exert pressure to prevent the Bill from being passed.
The people of Manipur no longer have any faith in the State Government, he added.
The CPI MSC secretary said that now is not the time to remain idle as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly planning to make an announcement concerning the Naga peace talks during the Hornbill Festival which will start from December 1.No solution of the peace talks should affect the State, he warned.
No one should support the BJP's attempt to transform the country to a Hindu Rashtra.
All of the controversial moves made by BJP are attempts at creating a large vote bank.
If CAB gets passed, a large number of foreigner will flood the country and lead to serious problems in the future, particularly for small States like Manipur, Sotinkumar claimed.
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