galand CM slams Manipur for passing 'anti-tribal' bills

Imphal, Feb 14: galand Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang on Sunday flayed the Manipur government for passing three “anti-tribal” bills in the assembly, and termed it “unconstitutiol”.

At a public meeting in Ukhrul district of Manipur in connection with the ga seed-sowing festival Lui Ngai Ni, he said: “The Congress government had done so with an eye to the votes from the valley people in the 2017 assembly elections. The bills were passed without knowing the history of the gas.”

Meanwhile, Manipur’s Congress legislator N. Biren said some organisations invited the galand chief minister to the function which only showed the mistrust and disunity among the people of Manipur.

“In the hills in Manipur, there is no democracy since voters are arm-twisted to vote for the candidates projected by certain groups,” he said.

Zeliang said the four legislators of the ga People’s Front in the Manipur assembly have resigned in protest against the passing of the bills. However, the speaker has not acted yet on the resigtions.

Violence erupted following the Manipur government’s adoption on August 31, 2015 of three landmark bills — Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (seventh amendment) Bill 2015, and Manipur Shops and Establishment (second amendment) Bill 2015. The bills are pending with the president.

Houses, properties of ministers and legislators were burned down by a frenzied mob. Police opened fire at protesters, and eight people were killed. One youth died in a road accident during the protests.

On the festival, he said it teaches people to work harder, and will also help develop tourism.

“The ga bodies should organise a festival which will encompass all gas spread in Manipur, galand, Assam and Aruchal Pradesh,” he said.

He exhorted the people to support the attempts by the central government to bring about a peaceful solution to the ga problems.