IT News
Imphal, June 26:
The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) of Manipur has issued a press release demanding action on several pressing issues facing the state, ranging from the implementation of NRC and the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, to the abrogation of SoO and respecting the merger agreement.
In the press release signed by Vice-President B.M. Yaima Shah, FOCS calls for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, using 1951 as the base year, to identify and address the presence of illegal immigrants, stressing the need for strict verification processes. The organization also underscores the importance of enforcing the Indian Forest Act 1927 and the Reserved Forest provisions under the Forest Act 1972 to combat climate change and global warming, urging legal action against violators.
The implementation of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 is highlighted as essential, with FOCS calling for stringent measures against those involved in the widespread mass cultivation of poppy in Manipur. The organization condemns unauthorized development projects carried out by Kuki narco-terrorists without the state government’s knowledge or permission, including roads, bridges, and mini airports in Churachandpur, which pose a threat to the state’s sovereignty and development.
Advocating for Manipur to be recognized as a Hill State in its entirety, FOCS emphasizes the unique geographical and cultural characteristics of the region. Additionally, the organization calls for the enforcement of the Historical Monument Act 1951, the Ancient Monument Act 1904, and the Ancient Monument Act 1958 to protect religious and historical sites.
FOCS demands that the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with terrorist groups, held by both the Government of India and the State Government, be terminated and not extended further. The press release highlights escalating violence by Kuki narco-terrorists, including bomb attacks, arson, extortion, and highway assaults, and calls for the establishment of a Highway Protection Force.
The organization appeals to the Minister of External Affairs, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Governor of Manipur, and the Chief Minister of Manipur to take decisive action against external aggression, ensuring national security. FOCS also calls for the removal of Kuki and other Kuki tribes from the recognized list of Scheduled Tribes, asserting their status as illegal immigrants.
Warning against the creation of an “Independent Christian State” by the Kuki-Zo groups, backed by western interests, FOCS asserts that such a move undermines India’s sovereignty. The organization insists that law and order are state subjects and that the Manipur State Government must take full responsibility for maintaining it.
Calling for an amendment to Article 3 of the Indian Constitution to safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples, FOCS also demands that the Government of India respect the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949. Failure to do so, they argue, breaks the legal basis of the agreement, jeopardizing the political relationship between Manipur and India.
