The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), Manipur, on Tuesday drew the attention of the state government for immediate implementation of NRC exercise in the state in an effort to address the issue of illegal immigrants threatening Manipur's integrity.
Exercising the NRC by establishing the Manipur Population Commission is the immediate need of the hour to save the state from demographic invasion and save the indigenous from being swamped by immigrants, said FOCS vice-president BM Yaima Shah while speaking to the media in Imphal.
Pointing out that there are reports of the existence of numerous immigrants between the Keithelmanbi to Noney region who are unable to communicate in local dialects, he questioned, “If there is such a report in the areas near the valley region, what might be the condition in the interior border areas?”
Citing the recent detection of a Bangladeshi from Lilong area and Myanmar nationals from Phayeng area, he said such is a big apprehension to the indigenous population and a threat to the ethnic identity.
Affirming that FOCS is not accepting any such intolerance which threatens the integrity of the state, the vice-president said, “We are ready to face any eventualities if anyone challenges the integrity of Manipur”.
Supplementing Yaima’s statement, FOCS president Th Manihar apprised the concerned immigrants to stop all anti-social activities such as alleged changes of a region or village names, attempt to alter historical facts and claiming of homeland, before things goes into an ugly turn.
To solve the issue of land claiming and its possible unwanted outcomes at once in an unbiased manner and in the interest of all ethnic groups, the president also appealed to the state government to implement the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960.
Remaining as a silent spectator to the demands of FOCS will compel them to take up intensive forms of agitation in collaboration with like-minded groups and the public, he cautioned.
The president appealed to all the people of the state to bear in mind the concept of “we the indigenous as a whole” and abstain from taking up steps in the interest of a single community which might hurt others.
