Centre pushing Northeast towards demographic change with Citizenship Bill, says Manipur MP

Imphal, November 6, 2019:

Lorho Pfoze, a Manipur Lok Sabha MP from the Naga People's Front (NPF), which is in alliance with the BJP in Manipur, has said that the Centre is trying to alter the demographic profile of the Northeast by "dumping" outsiders in the volatile region.

Pfoze further stated that the Centre must pay heed to "emotions and sentiments" of the people of northeast, and refrain from implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

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The MP stated that the Union government views the northeast as a region which harbours a lot of discontent against the country, particularly because it has not blended with mainland India, and that is why the Bill has been imposed.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren, who held consultations with the Union Home Ministry today, stated that Amit Shah has assured that the state will be protected from the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

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The Chief Minister’s assertion comes amidst a huge ruckus over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in all corners of the Northeast. Biren also said that the Bill will not be placed in Manipur until the “indigenous rights” of the people of the state are protected.

It may be mentioned here that the Government is aiming to amend a 1955 law that grants citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians from the Muslim-dominated countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan if they have lived in India for six years or more.

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