Newmai News Network
Senapati | June 6
Tribals in Manipur under the banner of Manipur Tribals' Forum (MTF) will begin agitation from the midnight of June 9 against the three "anti-tribal bills" passed by the Manipur assembly, according to sources. In a serious deliberation today the tribal leaders have taken this decision. However, the nature of agitation is not disclosed. The tribal leaders are likely to announce their line of action officially on June 7.
The sources informed Newmai News Network this evening that the tribal leaders participated in today's meeting have resolved that "do-or-die" movement against the three bills will be initiated. "We will like to caution the NDA Government not to play vote bank politics," stated the sources. They further said that today's meeting of the tribal leaders have also decided to submit a "strong worded" memorandum to the Prime Minister of India.
This decision of the Manipur Tribals' Forum came even as various modes of agitation initiated by the valley based organisations under the aegis of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) are going on demanding the implementation of the three bills--the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue & land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Manipur Shop & Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015—which were passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly last year.
Nine protesters lost their lives when security forces tried to control strong protests that erupted in south Manipur district of Churachandpur following the passing of the three government ILP Bills last year. The tribal people said the Bills impinge upon their rights and hence they should be withdrawn.
The agitation of the tribal people against the passing of the three bills on August 31 last year in a special sitting of the Manipur Legislative Assembly was on the perception that these bills are anti tribal and violate the provision of Article 371C and the Manipur State Hill People Regulation, 1947. The state government claimed that the amendment does not infringe upon Article 371C of the Indian Constitution. The state government also said that MLR&LR Act 1960 is applicable only in the four valley districts (Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur) and a “small portion” of Churachandpur district. The state government further clarified that these three bills do not infringe on the existing rights of the tribal community settled in the state of Manipur and also do not impinges on the provision of Article 371C and the subsequent Presidential order of 1972 which provides for Scheduled areas and matters as also the Manipur State Hill People Regulation, 1947. It further clarified that the present amendment of MLR&LR Act which was passed in the Assembly does not extend to the hill areas and in no way it will affect or alter the present status of the tribal land. But these clarifications have failed to allay the apprehension of the tribal people.
To the tribal people of Manipur, the three anti-tribal Bills which "infringe" on tribal identity, land rights and economy are only a new chapter in Manipur Government’s intrinsic policy of cultural alienation, political marginalization & developmental exclusion of the tribals, as well-thought out State policy of modern-day political conquest and annexation having absolutely nothing to do with the Inner Line Permit System.
The tribal JAC against the three bills had expressed earlier that "having totally lost faith" in Manipur Government’s commitment and ability to bring about any acceptable solution, and with the anticipation of many similar anti-tribal bills from the State Government in future, "the growing sentiments among the tribal people now is that of mistrust and total disregard for the State Government which further nourishes the tribal aspiration for separation of tribal territories from the control of the ethnic Manipur Government, which is also increasingly seen as the only viable solution".
Manipur govt denies Rajnath Singh's remark on meeting
Imphal, June 6 (IANS): The Manipur government on Monday denied Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's reported statement to a state BJP delegation that the state government had not sought any appointment with him on the three bills awaiting presidential assent. Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam told reporters here that the Okram Ibobi Singh government had written letters through proper channels for proposed meetings with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
"The chief minister even wrote personal letters to seek appointments," the minister said. Ibobi has since maintained that there has been no response from the Centre so far to the requests for meetings on the three anti-migrants bills pending presidential assent since September last year but which have already been passed by the Manipur assembly. Gaikhangam also took exception to the BJP leaders going alone for a meeting with the central leadership on the issue.
He said that an all-party delegation from Manipur was already in Delhi even as no assent for the meetings was forthcoming. "The state BJP is a part of the delegation. It is both surprising and unwarranted that a BJP team met the Union Home Minister and Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju on the three bills. "Let the BJP take full credit. But it would have been decent on the Manipur BJP's part to have invited other members of the delegation too. The BJP action shows the disunity among the political parties in Manipur," the deputy chief minister said. Gaikhangam said he will join the delegation members camping in Delhi since Friday.
