'Include Bishnupriya Manipuris into COBC list' Says Gopidas Sinha

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Students' Union (NBMSU) and the Bishnupriya Manipuri Ganasangram Parishad (BMGSP) submitted an ultimatum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday for the inclusion of the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Assam into the Central OBC (Other Backward Classes) list within a month, failing which, the two organizations threatened that they would resort to a vigorous agitation.

Talking to the newsmen at Dispur Press Club here on Thursday, chief adviser of the twin organizations, Gopidas Sinha said, "The two lakh Bishnupriya Manipuris of Assam have not been included in the Central OBC list as yet. This deprives the students of the community of facilities for higher education and youths of jobs in the Central government departments.

"At the 501-hour rail blockade at Patharkandi in Karimganj district on March 16, 1996 Sudeshna Sinha fell to police bullet. That incident prompted the State government to include the Bishnupriya Manipuris in the State OBC list.

"The State government then communicated with the Union Ministry Social Justice and Empowerment and the then Chairman of the NCBC (National Commission for Backward Classes) for the inclusion of the Bishnupriya Manipuris in the Central OBC list. The State government has also conducted a survey of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community of Assam for the inclusion of the community in the Central OBC list, but to no avail."

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