Two years on, but still no wiser
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 08, 2014 -
"A year on, but little wiser."
This was the headline under which we had written our editorial on June 15, 2013 in response to the adoption of the second resolution by the Manipur State Assembly 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 in the House on July 13, 2013.
The second resolution had come exactly a year after a Private Member Resolution moved by Opposition MLA Dr Ibohalbi and seconded by two other Opposition MLAs namely Th Shyamkumar of Andro A/C and Th Bishwajit of Thongju A/C, in connection with extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1973, a statute under which Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) could be enforced, was passed on July 13, 2012.
Both the resolutions were adopted and passed by all the elected 60 members in the House 'unanimously' after renewed public movement spearheaded by 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.
However, during that time-gap of one year between the adoption of the first and the second resolution, the growing concern over the issue of unchecked and unregulated influx of 'outsiders' into Manipur remains without any change. All that the two resolutions had been able to do was to quell the public movement on ILP demand for the time being.
In the backdrop of the ongoing intense public movement for re-introduction of the restrictive regime to save the indigenous people from the onslaught of rampant influx of outsiders who have already captured the economic activities in the State, an all-political- party meeting convened by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Wednesday has led to the formation of a committee with the purpose of looking into the possibility of formulating an own legislation of the State to protect the interest of the native people.
So, after the two resolutions adopted by the State Assembly, now it is the turn of the committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam that has to do trick of buying time.
When the the second resolution adopted by the State Assembly had emphatically made it clear the intention of the House on 'extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 or any viable law under the Indian Constitution Article 19 Clause 5,' what else could one make out from constituting a committee to look into the matter now and the resolution of deputing a team which may include representatives of JCILPS to urge the centre for re-introduction of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur?
When the Centre had already rejected the demand for re-introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Manipur, what is the point of urging the Centre again?
Moreover, it is not so much the formation of a committee to look into the demand for putting in place a legislation to restrict the influx of outsiders that is so essential now but the true commitment of all the 60 MLAs in the State on the issue of unregulated and unchecked influx of outsiders and the future of Manipur and its people.
Unfortunately, two years on, the same worthless feeling of passage of time lingers on.
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