"No Government in the history of Manipur ever challenged the public"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 29 2019: Asserting that no Government in the history of Manipur had ever challenged the public and organised a counter rally against the people's wishes on any issue, CPI (M), Manipur State Council secretary Ksh Shanta Singh has termed the conduct of the pro-Citizenship Act rally, 'fascist' .

Speaking at a sit in protest organised by All India Tanzeem - e- Insaf, Lilong Local Council at Lilong Turel Ahanbi Kaleikhong Thong demanding withdrawal of Citizenship Amendment Act, the veteran politician also said that people in the State should be vigilant and cautious as "Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) can be repealed any time by the President" .

No Government in the history of Manipur ever challenged the public

Shanta went on to point out that Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR)/ILPS was earlier abolished in 1950 by the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur, Himmat Singh.

He said that BJP led Government should not impose any particular religion or language in the country and the people in the country should be given liberty as the citizens of a democratic and secular country.

"The recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act which excludes the Muslim immigrants is communal, discriminatory in nature and it is against the law of the land," he said.

The law of the land has equal respect for different communities and religions and it does not discriminate against any caste, creed and religion, he added.

Mass protests in educational institutions and different parts of the country have proven that people in the country are not willing to accept CAA, Shanta asserted.

"While the people of Manipur have been demanding the implementation of Manipur People's Bill (MPB), the Centre granted another regulation called ILPS.

The ILPS was extended in many of the North East States because BJP needed the favour of some MPs in the regions in order to pass Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Rajya Sabha," he said alleging that the ILPS was not actually meant for welfare of the people but a necessary step to gain trust in the face of the many protests against the Bill.

He reminded that different countries had already extended their supports to the movement of the people and condemned the Act.

Noting that Chief Ministers of many States, including that of West Bengal, Kerala and Maharashtra had also declared that CAA will not be implemented in their States, the CPI (M) secretary accused the BJP led Government of forcing the CAA on the people and playing vote bank politics.

While claiming that he welcomes and lauds the achievements and laurels brought by Rajya Sabha MP Mary Kom for the State, Shanta condemned the world champion for voting in favor of CAA against the wishes of the people in the State and NE.

National secretary of All India Tanzeem-e-Insaf, Islahuddin demanded that CAA should be repealed at the earliest and claimed that the Act violates Article 14, 15 of the Indian Constitution.

He also opposed the Central Government's plan/intention to exercise National Population Register (NPR) and NRC in the country.