Our Correspondent
Imphal | March 9
The issue concerning withdrawal of three ‘anti-tribal’ Bills passed by the Manipur Assembly has apparently been relegated considering the ‘offhand attitude’ of the Manipur government.
The tribal people of Manipur are worried that nothing much is heard about their voice till date despite a series of agitations to bring the government’s attention to their demand for cancellation of the Protection of Manipur People’s (PMP) Bill, 2015.
The state assembly on August 31 last passed the three ILP Bills intended to safeguard the interests of all indigenous communities of Manipur against the backdrop of a sustained protest in the valley spearheaded by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS).
In Churachandpur district, the people there have been agitating to keep the issue in the limelight under the banner of the Churachandpur JAC, which was constituted following the killing of the nine protesters during clashes with security forces following passing of the three controversial ILP Bills. The protesters even torched houses and properties of lawmakers during the violent stir. The issue has become all the more important for the tribal people of the state in view of the unceasing movement against the Bills which they say infringe upon their rights.
But the Manipur government remains adamant to the demand asserting that the Bills do not harm their interests at all.
The Churachandpur JAC, meanwhile, has called a 15-hour total shutdown in the district beginning March 17 midnight to show respect for the nine martyrs. A mass prayer in support of the tribal movement will also be performed at Lamka ground at 5 p.m., it informed. The committee dubbed the three Bills as “anti-tribal”.
The JAC expressed concern about the alleged failure of the Centre and the Manipur government to ensure the rights of the tribal people enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
According to the committee, March 18 marks the 200th day of the agitation launched against the ILP Bills in Churachandpur.
