IMPHAL, September 15: Taking serious note of the remarks of ex-MP Kim Gangte stating that the tribal should have been involved in the preparation of the three bills to safeguard the indigenous people which were passed in the State Assembly on August 31, the United Meitei Young Forum (UMYF) has asked the ex-MP to think before making comments on the issue.
In a statement, the UMYF questioned the ex-MP where she was when the bills to protect the indigenous people from the alarming influx of outsiders into the State were being prepared to be tabled and subsequently passed in the State Assembly which was the collective wish of the people.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is a tribal was made the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the bills, it said.
There is no question of favouritism or biasness when it comes to the preparation and subsequent passage of the bills, it asserted.
The statement pointed out that the time taken in the passing of the three bills may be the longest time taken in passing any bill in the history of the State.
Reiterating that the government through the media had repeatedly sought suggestions and observations from the people irrespective of caste and religion during the preparation of the three bills, the UMYF wondered what Kim Gangte was doing when all these were happening.
The three bills were passed in the Assembly in the presence of tribal MLAs and ministers on August 31, it said.
Ironically, Kim Gangte is claiming now that the chaos arising out of the passage of the bills could have been averted had the tribal people been consulted before the passage of the three bills in the Assembly, it said.
Such unfounded remark from a responsible politician who had remained an MP representing the State is highly condemnable, the statement said.