Have we arrived, finally ?
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: July 07, 2012 -
This is the question we would like to raise today in the light of withdrawal of a controversial Public Interest Litigation (PIL) from Gauhati High Court and formation of a Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit (ILP) System to give a boost to the ongoing public movement for re-introduction of ILP in the state.
The PIL in question had stood as a stumbling towards discussion of the issue in the last Assembly Session held on December 25, 2011 with the House maintaining that it would be sub-judicial to take a matter on which a PIL was pending in the High Court, though Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies (FREINDS), which is spearheading the movement for re-introduction of ILP, had vehemently denied that the PIL had nothing to do with the demand for ILP as it was related to foreigners' issue in Manipur.
Anyway, the controversial PIL has been withdrawn from the high court on July 4 so as to give no room for interference from any quarters in taking up the issue for discussion on the floor of the House this time and arriving at a definite stand of the state government towards a long pending demand for regulating entry of outsiders to Manipur.
Another interesting development that has come up in connection with the demand is that with formation of the Joint Committee comprising representatives of various social organizations, based both in the hills and the valley, FREINDS has announced handing over the movement for re-introduction of ILP to the people of the state.
As that say, the ball is now in the court of the public, and this is going to be tricky one. Besides, stepping up the movement, there is an urgent need to make each and every individual to understand why re-introduction of Inner Line Permit System is becoming a necessity in Manipur today.
Of course, lately, we have been witnessing mass turnout of people belonging to different walks of life at sit-in demonstrations to press the demand for ILP and various social organizations cutting across political divide have been chipping in their mite towards the cause.
But it is questionable, whether all these individuals and social organizations truly understand the real importance of the demand.
It has been seen at some places where people came out simply because they have been asked to demonstrate. Ignorance may be bliss in some areas, but true knowledge and information should be made the rallying point for a cause that would decide the fate of entire native population.
On the other hand, we see politicians, who are better known for dancing to the tune of opportune moments, lending their voice and support to a demand, which they themselves have been conveniently brushing aside all these years.
They are the worst form of parasites that we should stand guard against from diluting the cause.
As the ball has been thrown inside the court of the people, lets ensure that every individual in the society, including both native as well as non-native, be aware of the fact that demand for ILP is not a hate campaign against anyone but a move to regulate illegal infiltration of outsiders.
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