Awaiting the nod from Centre on ILP : Exposing the Delhi alibi
- Sangai Express Editorial :: July 06 , 2013 -
Students clash with Police while demanding Inner Line Permit System in Manipur on 27 June 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam
The lie lays exposed.
A big lie, if one considers the urgency and importance of the issue at hand. And no reason not to believe the hand which has exposed the lie.
Retd Judge C Upendra is not a man known for blowing hot airs or playing to the gallery and in stating that it is within the power and authority of the State Government to legislate its own version of the Inner Line Permit System, he has managed to rubbish the stand adopted by the State Government that the approval of the Centre is awaited for implementing the said ILPS.
The argument that the approval of the Union Home Ministry is needed to implement the ILPS may hold water, but the important point not to be missed is that the State Government is empowered to legislate its own laws which can restrict the influx of illegal migrants as well as check the inflow of outsiders to protect the interest of the indigenous people.
Meghalaya is an example that comes to mind. The Meghalaya Land Transfer Act is an example of a State Government legislating a land law.
In broad understanding, the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act prohibits the sale of land to outsiders all over the State, excepting a few areas in the heart of Shillong, the commercial and political capital of the State.
Besides this, the Government of Meghalaya is presently working on the modalities to enforce a law christened the Foreigners Act and Tenancy Law in view of the need to tackle the problem of influx and illegal immigration in the State.
Stated by none other than the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul Sangma and this cannot be taken lightly.
Take note of the choice of words taken by Mr Sangma. “Problem of influx and illegal immigration” is the term used by the Chief Minister.
Broader and more effective in addressing the problem of influx, for here it is not only about illegal migrants, but also illegal immigration.
How this will stand in the eyes of law of the country is something which only time can tell, but already an important message has been rung out and that is the Government of Meghalaya is serious about the continuous entry of outsiders to the State.
It is also a demonstration that Mukul Sangma and his men have the spine and the guts to view the issue from the perspective of the interest of the State and the people.
Something very different from how the Government of Manipur has been broaching the issue. Sure the Assembly has passed the resolution to implement the ILPS in the State not once but twice.
But then it has fallen back on over used ‘Delhi approval’ and surely the Delhi alibi cannot get more juvenile than this. This is what Retd Judge C Upendra underlined in his observation.
It need not necessarily be the ILPS but a law which will restrict the influx of outsiders, notably illegal migrants to the State. And it is within the power and jurisdiction of the State to legislate such a law, is the unequivocal stand of the retired Judge.
It is not only Meghalaya, but even Sikkim has its own laws to check the entry of outsiders and sale of land and immovable properties to non-locals.
The question is if these two neighbouring States can legislate their own laws, what is stopping the State Government from following suit ?
A case of being unable to cut the umbilical cord or a case of a spineless Government which cannot assert the aspirations of the people to their Delhi ?
Seen in this context, there is enough merit in the observation of the Retd Judge that most of the legislators are more interested in building bridges and roads.
This is no doubt important, for it is about development, but the context in which this observation was made is significant.
More interested in building roads and bridges is a pointer to the unholy nexus of the politicians and contractors at the cost of legislating laws and Acts which would prove beneficial to the people.
A hard hitting statement no doubt, but it is not below the belt.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.