PPCM says no to CAA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 03 2024: After the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), the Protection and Preservation Committee Manipur (PPCM) has stated that the Citizenship Amend-ment Act (CAA) should not be implemented in the State under any circumstances.

PPCM, in a press statement, reminded how the people of North East States protested against the passing of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) by the Parliament in 2019 .

Saying that a conglomerate of CSOs known as Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MANPAC) was form-ed after the Parliament approved the legislation, PPCM said that Manipur which is over populated due to large-scale unchecked migration from Myanmar and Bangladesh would stand steadfast against any attempt to implement CAA in the State.

Manipur has been witnessing population explo- sion due to all these migrants especially those coming from Myanmar and Bangladesh illegally, the committee added.

A joint body, North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP) which compri- ses representatives from all North East States had also opposed CAA, the PPCM reminded.

Saying that Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) was enforced in Manipur as the State doesn't have any mechanism to regulate entry of non-locals, PPCM continued that States where ILPS is applicable should be excluded from the purview of CAA as per an order of Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreign Division) dated September 27, 2020 .

Even after this assurance, an announcement from a particular Union Minister on implementing CAA across the country very soon has thrown the people into confusion, the committee main- tained while seeking clarification from the Manipur Government on the development.

Continuing that the people of Manipur didn't com- promise their stand against CAA at the time of ILPS implementation, PPCM claim- ed that ILPS was implemented in Manipur under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 only to suppress the movement against CAA.

The committee went on to state that the purview of Section 6B of CAA doesn't cover tribal areas where 6th Schedule of the Constitution is applicable and the States which come under ILPS regime as per the order of the Ministry of the Home Affairs.

Any attempt to implement CAA forcefully will be confronted tooth and nail, PPCM cautioned.

The Government of India should understand that the violent campaign carried out by Kuki narco-terrorists against the Meiteis is an assault on the internal security of India too, the committee maintained and asserted that implementing CAA amid the uncertainty the State has been facing would be suicidal.

CAA should not be implemented in Manipur under any circumstances, PPCM said while urging the State Government to make its stand clear on the CAA issue.

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