Summary:
IMPHAL: Acknowledging the growing public sentiments against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday said his government will strongly oppose the statute until a clause is incoporated saying that Manipur will not be affected by the proposed legislation.Speaking at an official function here, Biren said people’s apprehensions over the bill are genuine. Responding to a call of Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 (MANPAC), agitators displayed anti-bill placards and conducted street meetings at protest sites. Leaders of these parties, who left Imphal on Thursday, will hold several rounds of meetings with central leaders, Left and other secular parties to garner support against the bill, a source said. TUC vice-president Pratap Leishangthem said the bill should be withdrawn immediately.On the other hand, representatives of nine political parties — CPI, CPM, AIFB, RSP, AAP, PRJA , NCP, BSP and JD-S — are currently camping in New Delhi to join the campaign against the bill. The government understands the sentiments of the people and socal organizations concerning the bill.” He appealed to people to refrain from hurting the sentiments of other communities while staging agitations.Meanwhile, protests against the bill continued in valley districts of the state on Friday, resulting in traffic snarls..