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Association stages demonstration in Silchar, seeks Modi's intervention for Manipuris' welfare

Silchar: The central committee of All Assam Manipuri Youths’ Association, on Friday, submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi (via Cachar district administration) seeking his intervention for the safeguard of interests of the people of Manipuri community living in Assam.

The association members, carrying placards, converged in front of Cachar deputy commissioner’s office around 1:30pm and staged a demonstration. They raised slogans in unison in connection with their demand and sought the intervention of the central government in this regard. Later, they submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The memorandum said historical documents have proved that Manipuris are one of the indigenous communities in Assam. Although it is believed that Manipuris settled in Assam during the period of 1819-1826, but Manipuris existed much earlier and Barak Valley, which was known as “Thonghang” was once a part of the independent kingdom of Manipur (Cassay).

Despite being one of the indigenous communities and having a population of over six lakh, there is not a single MLA or MP of Manipuri community in Assam. In a democratic state, a community having a population of more than six lakh but no representative in the Assembly is a clear indication that Manipuris are being politically, economically and socially deprived, the memorandum stated.

The memorandum mentioned about the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill saying the bill has triggered panic across the Northeast, particularly in Assam, and this is very much evident from the hue and cry from different quarters in the region. The bill, if passed, will jeopardise the existence of the indigenous communities living in the state, the memorandum said.

The citizenship bill, which has been a bone of contention between Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley, envisages at granting citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014. It has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.

Another issue that has surfaced is about the granting of ST status to six OBC communities of Assam excluding Manipuris. This has sent a wrong message to the Manipuri community with people intensely feeling that they are being neglected by the state and central governments. This sensitive issue, if not addressed, can create unrest in the state, the memorandum said.

The association members demanded that Manipuris be included in the sixth schedule or in any proper constitutional framework by making necessary amendments in the constitution to safeguard the rights and interests of Manipuris in the state. Roshan Irom, president of the association and Jiran Angom, secretary, were present among others.

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