AMSU against influx of Biharis to Manipur

In the wake of the ongoing violence in Assam, the All Manipur Students' Union on Wednesday appealed to the state government to curb the influx of Biharis into the state.

Talking to mediapersons in state capital Imphal, AMSU president L Joykumar urged the government to send back those Biharis who had taken refuge in the state fleeing the violence in Assam.

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In a small state like Manipur, the influx could cause demographic and social changes, he said while pointing out that several students sacrificed their lives during the stir against 'foreign nationals' (mostly Bangladeshis) in the state in the early eighties.

Official sources said that some Biharis had come over to Manipur from Cachar district of Assam through the border town of Jiribam, about 222km west of Imphal.

Describing the Bihar incident as an insult to the people of the Northeast, Joykumar urged the Manipur government to take steps in consultation with the Centre and Bihar government to ensure safe passage for NE passengers through Bihar. An emergency meeting of the North East Students' Organisation (NESO) would soon be held in Guwahati to discuss the assault on train passengers in Bihar.

Joykumar condemned Bihar MPs for reportedly blaming Delhi-based students of the Northeast for reacting against the Bihar incident and added that such attitude would create more problems instead of solving the existing ones.

Joykumar also appealed to all authorities and political leaders to refrain from making irresponsible statements. He asked Manipuri students in Bihar to remain alert and keep in constant touch with their guardians.