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.