Newmai News Network
Imphal | January 25
A meeting of Manipur ministers and MLAs on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill held today, which was chaired by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, resolved to urge the Central Government to include a provision in the Bill or the rules to be framed thereunder to the effect that the consent of the State Government of Manipur will be required before granting citizenship to any person, according to the Manipur Chief Minister's Office. The meeting also resolved to urge the Centre for giving Presidential assent to the Manipur People Bill, 2018 at the earliest, it also said.
"The meeting took note of the fear in the minds of people and with a view to dispel these fears, resolved to urge the Centre for implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur as had been done in Assam," the Chief Minister's Office added.
Further, the meeting also decided to organise awareness programmes through Government functionaries in order to accurately inform and sensitize the people on the content of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and its impact on the State of Manipur.
The meeting also appreciated the statement of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for its assurance that without the State Government's recommendation, no one would be given Indian citizenship.
On January 28, an all political party meeting will be convened by the State Government to discuss the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Sources said that all the political parties in Manipur have been invited by the State government to the meeting.
Earlier, Chief Minister, N Biren Singh had said that “there is no change” in his government's stand in pressing the Centre to give assent to Manipur People Bill, 2018 before the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 becomes an Act. Biren had also said that the State Government “understands the urgent need” for a mechanism to protect the identity of indigenous people of the State. On the other hand, Biren Singh also urged the public to thoroughly study both the positive and negative aspects of the Bill before coming to any conclusion.
The passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha has triggered charged situation in Manipur as opposition political parties and civil society organisations are attacking the BJP led governments, both at the Centre and in Manipur. It is likely that Manipur will witness intense agitations in the days to come against the passing of the Bill as more and more civil society organisations are coming out condemning the act of the government with regard to the Bill.
The All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) said that it “is all set to launch series of agitation in collaboration with several North East based organizations if the Bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha”. According to the AMUCO, it has been keeping in touch with many organizations from outside Manipur to protest against the Bill.
Earlier, the United Naga Council (UNC) had also made it clear regarding its opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The UNC, in its ‘presidential council meeting’ held on January 15 at its office in Tahamzam (Senapati), had strongly opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
