Day: September 18, 2015

IMPHAL, September 18: The State core committee of BJP, Manipur Pradesh had a meeting today at its head office located at Nityaipat Chuthek during which the prevailing situation in the State witnessed in the aftermath of the passing of the three bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly was discussed at length.

The three bills namely the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015; Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Manipur Shops & Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 were passed by the State Assembly on August 31, drawing flak from the tribal community.

The meeting observed that the State is in turmoil due to social unrest and agitation by the people from both the hills and valley on the issue of protection of the identities and culture of its indigenous people.

The people have been struggling over the years to confront the threat from the continuous influx of people from other States of the country and outside the country for which such a demand was submitted to the government for protection of the indigenous people. The government took cognizance of these demands and got three bills adopted by the State Assembly unanimously on August 31, the gathering agreed.

It is unfortunate that some Chief Ministers and leaders of other States were expressing sectarian views on such a sensitive issue concerning the people of Manipur. Such avoidable interference in the internal affairs of Manipur would not help maintain peace and harmony in the region, the meeting noted.

The BJP State core committee also admitted that the State government is making efforts to defuse the situation by inviting NGOs and other organizations for consultation on the three bills passed by the Assembly with the view to bring about a peaceful atmosphere.

Though BJP Manipur has returned not a single MLA in the 11th Assembly, the party has been supporting the cause of the indigenous people of Manipur and suggesting ways and means to the government for resolution of the issue in the face of the public movement spearheaded by JCILPS, it maintained.

Further observing that normalcy is expected to return as and when the government gives assent to all the three bills pending in the Governor Secretariat, the BJP State core committee appealed to all sections of the civil society to maintain calm and join hands in the better endeavour to protect the interests of the indigenous people of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/bjp-discusses-prevailing-situation-post-passage-of-bills/

IMPHAL, September 18: More than 250 Kuki villages were recorded by the Manipur Durbar in 1946-47, so how is it possible to term the Kukis as foreigners as was claimed by the Meitei International Forum member RK Rajendra.

This was stated by JD (U) Manipur general secretary (Organisation) Lien Gangte during a press conference held at the party office.

He demanded a proper clarification from Rajendra on his claim and to tender an apology to all the kukis in the world in the traditional kuki way, if he fails to do so.

He said he will file a case in the court under IPC 153 (A), if Rajendra fails to do so.

Speaking at the press conference, he said his party considers the statement to be unfortunate.

Since time immemorial, the kukis have been coexisting with the other communities in Manipur, he observed.

During different periods, the Kukis had taken vital roles during wars for the Manipuri kingdom, he said.

During the reign of Maharaj Budhachandra, the Manipur Durbar recorded 250 Kuki villages in Manipur in the 1946-47, he added.

He said in the past, the kings had even handed the sole responsibility of the hills to the Kukis.

It is ufortunate the RK Rajendra had made such a statement as claiming the Kukis to be foreigners, he added.

He demanded a proper clarification through the media or other platform from Rajendra.

If his proof is authentic, we will further check the truth, but if he wants the truth he can get all the documents from the JD (U) office, Gangte added.

Such statement hurts the sentiments of the people and Rajendra should be responsible if any communal tension is ignited due to the statement, he added.

JD (U) State president M Tombi on the other hand accused the Centre and the State unit BJP of being anti-Kuki.

He said the government is yet to do anything for the Kuki villagers who were killed, displaced and thir houses destroyed during the Naga-Kuki clash in the early part of 1990’s.

The government has also failed to even try to settle the demands of Suspension of Operation signatory Kuki groups, while, it has signed a peace accord with the NSCN (IM), he said.

He also charged the Centre, the State government and the BJP State unit of playing games in the State.

He said the JD (U) also welcome the Nagaland Governor’s statement that NSCN (IM) cadres will be absorbed in security forces.

Tombi also said if MP Thangso Baite had actually made the statement of splitting the State into two Union Territories then it is very unfortunate.

He said during a meeting with the Union Home secretary on August 23, regarding the five pints of the JCILPS, all MPs from the State Md Salam, Dr Th Meinya and Thangso baite were present and all of them had not raised any objection to the five points then.

He said if Thangso Baite has made the splitting of Manipur comment to the media, then it is very unfortunate.

However, if the MP clarifies he had not made any such statement, but later his voice recordings are produce to prove it, then he must resign from being an MP of Manipur, he demanded.

Clarifying on Kim Gangte’s allegations that neither the government nor the JCILPS included Hill leaders in preparing the bills, he said it is totally wrong and baseless.

He said during a discussion on the five point demands of the JCILPS at the Conference Hall of the Assembly, Phungjathang Tonsing, Francis Ngajokpa and other hill leaders were also present.

He also said that during the long period preparing the bills, opinions of several seasoned politicians including RIshang Keishing, RK Dorendro, RB Koijam and many other hill leaders were taken.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/lien-gangte-demands-clarification-from-rk-rajendra/