Newmai News Network
Imphal | May 7
The ‘public curfew’ called by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) demanding to protect the interests of indigenous people by implementing a law similar to ILP ended this evening.
The committee is worried that the current unchecked influx of migrants poses a serious threat to the indigenous communities in Manipur and is calling for tougher laws to tackle the issue.
The 42-hour strike which began on May 5 midnight ended at 6pm on Saturday. The public curfew was by and large peaceful but reports of a few incidents of minor scuffle were received from some places during the course of the strike which was almost total in the valley.
Strike supporters barricaded all roads including National Highways running through the valley districts preventing movement. There was no ILP protest in the hills. The three ILP Bills passed by the Manipur Assembly on August 31, 2015 has noticeably wedged a rift between the members of the Meitei community and almost all tribal communities in the state. The tribal people contend that the Protection of Manipur People (PMP) Bill, 2015 hurts their sentiments and hence, should be withdrawn. Nine protesters were killed in violent incidents that erupted in Churachandpur district following the passing of the controversial Bills in the Assembly. The bills are now with the President of India awaiting assent, as required in converting Bills into Acts.
JCILPS wants immediate steps from the Congress government headed by Okram Ibobi Singh as well as involvement by all political parties in the state to help convert the Bills into Acts. The committee has also given a dateline to the Manipur BJP to clear their stance on the ILP issue by May 8. The committee hopes that the ILP Bills would become Acts and the public demand fulfilled if leaders from all political parties bring additional pressure on the BJP-led NDA government.
Former president of BJP Manipur Pradesh, Thounaojam Chaoba insisted that the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) needs to declare its stand on the ILP issue and impress upon the Congress government.
“For my party, a crucial meeting of the party’s core committee is being convened. I hope BJP’s position with regard to ILP will be announced quickly,” Chaoba told journalists at his residence located at Babupara here today.
Other political parties like Janata Dal (United), Manipur People’s Party (MPP) and Trinamool Congress have already announced their stance on the issue pledging support to the public movement spearheaded by JCILPS. The committee has also put up a key demand before the Manipur government and all political parties to delete the voters’ list of all non-locals and not to allow them from contesting the ensuing Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) polls scheduled for June 2.
