JCILPS resumes ILP movement

Imphal, September 4: JCILPS has today launched its agitation demanding to pass a bill to control influx in the state and urged not to allow the immigrants to contest and caste votes in the forthcoming panchayat elections to be held on October 7.

Sperheaded by the members of the JCILPS (Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System) people took out a demontration rally in Imphal, which kicked off from JCILPS office at Keishampat.

Arjun Telheiba, convenor JCILPS said, “We are initiating our movement from today itself demanding to pass a bill within the coming winter assmbly which can protect the indigeneous people of the land, and any of the non Manipuri people should not be allowed either to contest or caste votes in the forthcoming panchayat election

The rally passed Wahengleikai, Nagamapal and Khoyathong. The demostrators decided to march along the Kangla road, but the police intervened and diverted the rally.

JCILPS has been demanding introduction of an inner line permit system so as control flowing in of outsiders towards the state. They have the fear that growing immigrants in the state would one day lead to the extinction of the original settlers of Manipur.

The JCILPS yesterday announced to launch agitations from today. They have the notion that the bill to be passed as demanded should be acceptable by the people both in the hills and valley.

On August 31, 2015, during the Okram Ibobi led Congress regime, the Manipur Assembly passed the Protection of Manipur People Bill, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill on August 31 last year after sustained campaigning by the committee for the implementation of the inner-line permit.

Of the three bills passed by the state Assembly, the then President Pranab Mukherjee withheld the protection bill while the Centre was reportedly examining the other two bills – Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill and Manipur Shops and Establishments (second amendment) Bill.

The joint committee reiterated to make amendments to the Protection of Manipur People Bill, which has been withheld by Pranab Mukherjee, and also to pass the amended bill in the next Assembly session.

In the midst the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-tribal Bills, a tribal organisation based in the hill district of Churachandpur, reiterated its demand for withdrawal of the bills, naming the bills as anti trivbal bills.

The movement of the JCLPS has been speeded down, and today the state has witnessed the launching of agitation after months Nonthombam Biren Singh takes the chief minister’s office.