CFJM tears apart SA demand

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 3 : Terming the demand for Separate Administration (SA) as a threat to National security and Constitutional integrity, the Citizens for Justice Manipur (CFJM) has urged President Droupadi Murmu to reject the demand in a memorandum.
The representation was submitted via the Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West on September 1.
The remaining demands listed in the memorandum include-
i) Constitution of a high-level National Commission of inquiry to investigate undocumented immigration, potential demographic manipulation, and threats to National integrity.
ii) Initiation of immediate steps to verify citizenship in affected regions, and to deport or legally act against illegal immigrants under relevant laws.
iii) Strict background verification and audit of recruitment into Government jobs in the region to protect National interests.
iv) Supplementing law and order operations with Constitutional enforcement, recognizing this crisis not merely as a public disturbance but as an existential threat to Constitutional order, sovereignty and citizenship integrity.
v) Putting a temporary freeze on reservation-based recruitment from Kuki dominated districts (eg Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Kangpokpi) which have allegedly witnessed a phenomenal and unnatural increase in population, until the completion of an effective verification of such population.
vi) Declaration of "reservation lockdown zone" in such districts, until proper demographic and citizenship audits are completed.
In the memorandum, CFJM pointed out that the sectarian pursuit of politics will pose a grave threat to India's National security, economy, Constitutional foundations and the sovereign rights of Indian citizens if left unchecked.
While Article 3 of the Constitution allows for State reorganisation, it has historically never been used to reward "communal agenda". Past divisions of States were based on linguistic, regional, or developmental factors, not on the basis of ethnicity. The demand for SA by these Kuki-Chin groups is communal, rooted in ethnic exclusivity and secessionist tendencies. Therefore, it fails the Constitutional test of secularism and States' integrity, maintained the CFJM.
Addressing the issue of illegal immigration, CFJM said that the failure to timely identify and deport illegal immigrants has led to unintended advantages being extended to "non-citizens" such as- inclusion in domicile based reservations and benefits, employment in sensitive Government posts and participation in democratic and policy making processes.
In turn, this has led to two-fold harm, namely, security threats as sensitive data and administrative access may fall into unauthorized or anti-National hands and denial of Constitutional rights to genuine citizens, especially in terms of employment, education, welfare benefits and land ownership. CFJM added that this violates the Directive Principles of State Policy and the equality clause under Article 14, which mandates that State resources and opportunities be reserved for bona fide citizens only.
Saying that the Manipur conflict and the SA demand represents a "demographically engineered communal crisis", CFJM has called for urgent National intervention and urged President Murmu to treat the matter with the urgency and gravity it deserves.
Speaking in this connection to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, senior Advocate Khaidem Mani, chairperson, CFJM said that the demand for SA is unconstitutional, dangerous, and violative of the basic ethos of the Constitution.
As such, he urged the President, Prime Minister, Home Minister and Governor of Manipur Governor to "totally reject" the demand.