Kohima, August 24 (MExN): Four Naga NPF MLAs in Manipur who have resigned stated that the Manipur Government has taken the “devious and communal path” of undermining the legitimate rights of the Nagas and the tribal people by introducing the Regulation of Non-Local People Act, 2016.
“We condemn this move in the strongest possible term and shall not be a party to any Bill in any form that violates the tribal people's rights,” stated L Dikho, Samuel Risom, ST Victor Nunghlung, and Dr. V Alexander Pao in a press release. “We also declare that the Manipur State legislature is not competent to introduce and pass any bill that violates the Constitutional provision and various laws and Acts which protect the rights of the tribal, their land, identity and culture.”
The proposed bill, according to them, is just “another stratagem to annihilate the rights of the Hill people and to protect the ‘Indigenous People’ in Manipur is an absurdity and mockery of Democracy.” The release further condemned the “unscrupulous trick” of the Manipur govt. to deceive the people in the name of promoting their interest.
