IMPHAL, October 6 (NNN): Protesting members of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) Women Wing continued to mount pressure on state lawmakers to pass a tougher law to protect the "indigenous people" of Manipur. On Thursday, a large number of volunteers from the Women Wing of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) thronged the private residence of BJP MLA Khumukcham Joykishan Singh at Thangmeiband and also swarmed the residence of Congress MLA RK Imo at Sagolband here. JCILPS has been leading the citizens to fulfill the pressing demand of introduction of ILP or a similar mechanism in the state to keep inrush of illegal migrants in check. The women and students wings of the joint committee are organizing fitful protest in the capital city. The Congress government headed by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has already promised a fresh bill to safeguard the interests of all indigenous people. The Joint Committee, however, wants a “rush bill.” The government demands a common consent on the proposed bill. The President of India had earlier rejected a Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 after the hill people of the state put up a fight against the passing of this bill, which resulted in widespread violence. Volunteers of the Women Wing pressed into the residences of MLAs Laishom Ibomcha and RK Anand yesterday as part of the campaign for introduction of ILP. Convenor of the JCILPS Women Wing, Thongam Ongbi Apabi led volunteers also shouted slogans demanding speedy introduction of the bill in the assembly. “We urge all legislators to absorb ILP bill in the election manifestoes of their political parties,” Apabi said. The Joint Committee, a conglomerate of citizens, has expressed concern that the state government and all political parties have been trying to push the ILP issue aside. The importance of this issue is apparently growing up in view of the mounting pressure putting on political parties ahead of the forthcoming state assembly election slated for early next year.
