A year on but little wiser
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 15, 2013 -
Sit-in-protest at Singjamei Nupi Keithel, Imphal demanding Inner Line Permit System in Manipur on 13 June 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam
From July 13, 2012 to July 13, 2013.
Whether it is pure coincidence or real concerned over the issue, but exactly a year after a private member resolution moved by Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi and seconded jointly by two other Opposition MLAs, namely, Th Shyamkumar and Th Biswajit on extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1973, a statute under which Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) could be enforced, was passed by on July 13, 2012, Manipur State Assembly adopted its second resolution on re-implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State after a long deliberation on a Short Duration Discussion Motion raised by ruling Congress MLA RK Anand yesterday (July 13, 2013).
Understandably, as in the case of the first, the second resolution has come in the wake of renewed public agitation being spearheaded under the aegis of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) for re-implementation of the restrictive regime in the State, which had been abolished by an order of the then Commissioner Himmat Singh on November 18, 1950 after Manipur merged with India.
Both the resolutions are understood to have been adopted and passed by all the elected members in the House 'unanimously'. However, during this time-gap of one year from July 13, 2012 to July 13, 2013, the concern over the issue of unchecked and unregulated influx of 'outsiders' into Manipur remains without any change.
Nonetheless, there is a notable difference between the first and the second resolution adopted by the Manipur Legislative Assembly. The first resolution had simply stated that 'the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to extend and adopt the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 with necessary changes in the point of details of the State of Manipur and to urge the Government of India to comply the same.'
Whereas, the second resolution has emphatically made it clear the intention of the House by resolving to urge the Centre for 'extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 or any viable law under the Indian Constitution Article 19 Clause 5.'
The Clause 5 of Article 19 states that 'nothing in sub-clauses (d) and (e) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub-clauses either in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe'.
So, even if sub-clauses (d) and (e) endorse free movement and settlement of any Indian citizen in any part of the territory of India, the State administration can enact own law to restrict influx or settlement of outsiders in the interest of its people.
So, why should any of the members in the House waste any more time worrying over the supposed acceptance or the rejection of the repeated resolutions taken by the State Assembly for implementation of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur by anyone, if they actually think and feel in their heart and mind that such a restrictive regime is required for the welfare of their people and not for any other considerations like vote bank or election funding?
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