Newmai News Network
Imphal | December 17
Demonstrations in solidarity to the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were staged in Imphal on December 17.
Manipur People Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 (MANPAC) staged the demonstration along Tidim Road at Keishampat Junction whereas students of LMS Law College and Manipur College staged outside their respective college campuses.
The demonstrations were staged under strict vigil by the police. Talking to reporters, MANPAC convenor Yumnamcha Dilipkumar reiterated their demand saying that the entire region of the Northeast must be kept outside the purview of CAA.
"Even if ILP system has been extended and kept outside the ambit of the CAA, we staged the demonstrations in solidarity to the people of the other states of the country, particularly neighboring states fighting against the CAA," he said, while adding, “We are organising the protests here showing solidarity to the anti-CAA protests in other states of the country and with a message of our support to their cause."
Dilipkumar strongly condemned the state government for its alleged obstruction to the staging of the demonstration saying it was violation of fundamental rights of the people. "The obstruction given to the peaceful and democratic ways of protest showed that the present state government is trying to suppress the voices of the people", he went on to allege.
Meanwhile, during the demonstrations, participants shouted various slogans against CAA and demanded clause exempting the entire Northeast from the purview of the CAA or total scraping of the Act.
