Mizo National Front (MNF) leader Zoramthanga today slammed the Congress government in Manipur for "trying to destroy the safeguards of tribal communities" in the hilly areas of that state.
"The Manipur government is trying to take away the rights and privileges of tribals given to them by the British ... That government is now trying to destroy the safeguards of the tribal communities in the hilly areas," the former Chief Minister of Mizoram said while addressing the party workers at Hnam Run at the MNF headquarters here.
MNF, is always ready to help ethnic Mizos in Manipur and the people of Mizoram would take steps to ensure their safety, he said.
The passage of three bills -- Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh amendment) Bill, 2015 and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 has triggered violence in that state.
Tribals fear these legislations would allow "outsiders" to have rights over tribal land and not protect the indigenous people.
The government has clarified that the bills do not infringe on the existing rights of the tribal community settled in the state and also do not impinge on the provision of Article 371C and the presidential order of 1972 which provides for scheduled areas and matters as also the Manipur State Hill People Regulation, 1947.
