Manipur tribal groups slam CM Biren’s remarks on land

Nongthombam Biren Singh had allegedly said ‘land belongs to Mother Nature and not to any particular community’.

Tribal groups in Manipur have slammed Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh for allegedly saying “land belongs to Mother Nature and not to any particular community”.

Five organisations, including Tangkhul Naga Long, the apex body of the Tangkhul community, reminded the Chief Minister that the identity of the tribal people had a “sacred” connection with their land, the only legacy passed down by their forefathers.

“We are indigenous to our land and thus, the sole owners of our land. The British, having understood this right from the early days, created laws to honour the tribals’ relationship with their land. This birth right must be respected,” the organisations said in a statement issued on June 12.

They pointed out that Clause (B) of Section 2 of the Protection of Manipur People Bill passed by the 60-member Manipur Assembly in August 2015 defines the ‘Manipur people’ as ‘persons of Manipur whose name are in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), 1951, Census Report 1951 and Village Directory of 1951 and their descendants who have contributed to the collective social, cultural and economic life of Manipur’.

By this definition, they said, many residents of the hills would not qualify for inclusion in the NRC. Proper census was not maintained in the hills, least of all in 1951, they added.

“Also, Sections 14A (1)… states notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, non-Manipur persons, firms, institutions or any other similar entities who intend to purchase any land in the State of Manipur shall submit an application to the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned where the land to be purchased is situated for obtaining the prior approval of the State government before such purchase is made by him,” the organisations said.