Anti-CAB protest continues in Imphal
Women vendors of three all-women run market Tuesday suspended their business for the day and took part in anti- Citizenship (Amendment) Bill protests in Imphal. The protest-cum-meeting was organised by Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MPACAB), a core committee of CSOs formed to fight against CAB.
MPACAB was formed at a joint meeting of over 64 civil society organisations based in the state. The meeting had also declared to impose a state wide 24-hour general strike from the midnight of January 30, opposing the passage of contentious CAB-2016 by Lok Sabha on January 8 last.
In Tuesday’s meeting, MPACAB declared that all ethnic communities, civil society bodies, women bodies and student bodies have united to fight against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill-2016.
“We now stand united against the CAB 2016,” MPACAB leaders declared at the meeting.
During the protest cum meeting, all kinds of business activities in Imphal’s Khwairamband Keithel, the business hub of Manipur was brought to a complete halt.
Women vendors of Ima Keithel suspended their business transaction for the day and attended protest-cum-meeting. Showing solidarity to MPACAB’s movement against the Bill, all shops and business centres at Paona and Thangal Bazar also remained closed for the day.
Leaders of the MPACAB said that the emergency meeting was being organised to declare the united stand of the civil bodies, students and various ethnic communities of the state against the Bill.
UCM president Sunil Karam who talked elaborately on the possible impact of the Bill in the NE region said that the damage, if the Bill is passed, would be irrepressible.
He declared, “Today we have united to fight against the Bill and our struggle will achieve its goal.”
CIRCA convener Lancha Ningthouja claimed that everybody understood the hidden agenda behind the passage of the controversial Bill. “That is why all sections of people across the Northeast are raising their voices against the Bill,” he said.
Therefore, he called upon the indigenous people of the region to prepare for a united struggle to safeguard their culture, heritage, rights and lands.
Meanwhile, a 13-member delegation of 11 political parties, who attended the all-party meeting convened chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday, has left for New Delhi today.
The team led by state BJP president and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, K Bhabananda will press the Centre not to pass CAB. Among others, the delegates include leaders of AITC, AAP, NEIDP, NPF, Shiva Sena, LJP, RSP etc.
During their camping at the national capital, they will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister urging him to withdraw the Bill or insert a clause excluding Northeast from the jurisdiction of the Bill.
The delegate will also press the Centre to give Presidential assent to the Manipur People Bill 2018.
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