Newmai News Network
Imphal | February 8
While alleging the ruling BJP of attempting to pass the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, nine political parties in Manipur- CPI, CPI (M), AAP, NCP, RSP, PRJA, JDS, BSP and FB – Friday announced mass demonstrations on February 9 and on February 12.
The proposed mass demonstrations against the CAB will be staged across the six valley districts of Manipur, CPI Manipur State Council secretary L Sotinkumar informed the media, representing the nine political parties.
The news conference held at CPI state council office at Irawat Bhavan was also attended by leaders of the other political parties - CPI (M), AAP, NCP, RSP, PRJA, JDS, BSP and FB.
Sotinkumar alleged that despite the strong opposition from the people across the Northeast and political parties, BJP is still in favour of passing the Bill by the Rajya Sabha.
The Bill is most likely to table in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow or on February 12 as supplementary Bill, he hinted.
The CPI leader then strongly charged the BJP-led coalition government in the state of supporting the Bill.
Chief minister N Biren Singh had urged the people and all concerned to thoroughly deliberate the Bill para-wise before coming to any conclusion even though he reiterated his government stand against the Bill unless a clause keeping Manipur or Northeast states outside the purview of the Bill when enacted as an Act.
"The Chief minister’s statements in the recent times showed that he and his government are in favour of the Bill. The Chief Minister has the desire to get the Bill passed", the CPI leader alleged.
Further reacting to state government’s reported pressure to the Central government for INSERT IGNOREion of a clause that with keep the state outside the purview of the Bill, Sotinkumar asked as to how a Bill passed by Lok Sabha can be modified.
"Modifying the Bill which had already passed by the Lok Sabha was not possible. The Chief Minister and his coalition government are fooling the people", he alleged.
“The only way is to withdraw the Bill and we (the nine political parties) will continue the protest until and unless the Bill is withdrawn,” he declared.
Mention may be made that the nine political parties have been launching a series of protest demonstrations on the streets in Imphal and other parts of the state against the contentious Bill in the last few days.
They had also announced their full supports to the mass protests being underway across the state under the aegis of Manipur People Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (MANPAC), a conglomerate of 72 organisations based in both hills and valley of the state.
Besides, a delegation comprising members of the nine political parties led by CPI leader Dr M Nara Singh had also left Imphal for New Delhi on Thursday to lobby leaders of political parties other than BJP to vote against the Bill if it is introduced in the Rajya Sabha.