TMB Report
Imphal: Federation of Civil Society Organisation (FOCS), Manipur has appealed to the government to review and remove Manipur Land Reformation and Land Revenue Act, 1960, which has become a tool for creating hatred among the people in the State.
Addressing media persons in a press meet held at its office located at Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, FOCS President Thoidingjam Manihar said that the Manipur Land Reformation and Land Revenue Act, 1960 which was implemented in the State by the then British government is still in force in the State.
He said that taking advantage of the Act; certain groups of non-indigenous people have been claiming their rights besides creating new villages and changing names of various historical places of the State.
He said that these groups of people have only entered the State around 1968 and the Act which allegedly allows any community to settle in the State equally should be removed from the State as it has become a tool for groups of people with vested interests to claim land rights without any valid reasons.
Claiming that certain groups of people coming from outside the State have been claiming their rights and indulging in renaming of historical places of the State, he urged the State Government to abolish the Act in the interest of the indigenous people of the State.
He said that migrants must stop creating hatred among the different communities of the State by claiming their rights and they should refrain from indulging in activities that could disturb peace in the State. He also said that FOCS will lead the people in taking up agitations to remove Manipur Land Reformation and Land Revenue Act, 1960 from the State.
FOCS Vice-President Buyamayum Yaima said that many new villages have emerged in the hills and many foreigners have also settled in different parts of the valley, thereby posing a serious threat to the existence of the indigenous people.
He stressed on the need for urgent implementation of NRC in the State in order to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people. He also urged the State Government to put forward the proposal to the Central Government and set up the Manipur Population Commission at the earliest.
