Newmai News Network Imphal | September 4 Concerted people’s movement demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) or a similar mechanism resumed today after a gap of one year. Under the aegis of the Joint Committee on Inner Permit System (JCILPS), a massive rally was taken out in the streets of Imphal which started from 11 am. “Demonstrations” of different modes will be carried out throughout this month, leaders of the JCILPS informed. The rally took off from JCILPS office located at Sega Road and marched through Wahengbam Leikai, Khoyathong, BOC, Minuthong, Hatta, Palace Compound, Advance Hospital Road, Old Thumbuthong and then to Keishamthong and culminated the JCILPS office. "Pass a Bill which can effectively protect indigenous people of the State in the winter session of the State Assembly" and "Non-local people should not contest the forthcoming 5th Panchayat General election or cast votes" were some of the slogans of today’s rally. Talking to journalists on the sidelines of the rally, Convenor of JCILPS, Arjun Telheiba argued that “outsiders” are about to outnumber the local population and also dominate “our market”. “Our cultures and traditions have also been adversely affected because of the overwhelming non-local population in Manipur,” he added. On September 20, a meeting of “all communities” will be convened to chalk out further course of strategies and actions. In between, public meetings, street corner meets and poster campaigns will be carried out. However, the JCILPS said that bandhs and blockades will be avoided. The Committee also said that it will carry out its agitation without hampering students and other academic activities in the state. It may be noted here that normal life was severely affected for several months last year following intense agitation of the JCILPS. The Committee had even imposed ‘public curfew’ on non-locals.
