Biren pins hope on special provision for CAB to land in Manipur

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 7: Chief Minister N Biren has exuded confidence that the Central Government would give priority to a special provision which would protect indigenous peoples of the North East region including Manipur in the event of passing the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).
Speaking to media persons at his office today, Biren cited the recent assurance given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the Mizoram Chief Minister that a special provision would be incorporated in the CAB to protect indigenous people of Mizoram.
As indicated by the Union Home Minister’s assurance, the Central Government would certainly incorporate a special provision in the context of Manipur too to protect the State’s indigenous people, Biren asserted.
Although the Union Home Minister named Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where ILPS is in force, the Central Government would act for the entire North East region.
Amit Shah would grace the inaugural ceremony of the forthcoming Manipur Sangai Festival as chief guest. During his stay at Imphal, the State Government would urge him to incorporate a special provision so that no harm is done to the indigenous people of the State as and when CAB is passed, Biren said.
Categorically stating that  his Government would always work in the interest of the people, Biren vowed that the State Government would never work against people’s will and aspirations.
Advocating peaceful dialogues to resolve all the issues plaguing the State, he appealed to all concerned not to resort to bandhs/blockades for any grievance.
Informing that the Shirui Festival scheduled next month would be opened by Union Tourism and Art & Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, the Chief Minister said that the festival would feature a plastic-free campaign.
The festival would also feature cultural programmes of different communities living in the State.
Arrangements are also being made to ferry visitors of the festival who come by air from Bir Tikendrajit International Airport to Khuman Lampak inter-State bus terminus. From there, they would be taken to Ukhrul.
The Government has also been working to show Thailand’s martial art form Muay Thai at the festival. The State Government has already received a request to arrange accommodation facilities for around 5000 foreign tourists who would be attending the Shirui Festival, said the Chief Minister.     
Around 50 Government Departments have power tax dues of over Rs one crore and it has been there since many years back. The matter would be discussed at a meeting of high level Cabinet committee and decide whether the due power tax should be paid by deducting certain amounts from the budgetary allocations of the departments concerned or otherwise, Biren added.