What our Hon'ble Chief Minister may do now in connection with the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur
- Part 2 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

Women folks of Khwairamband Keithel protest ILP on March 17 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

2.2. Title of the Bill: The title of the Bill should reflect the main objective of the Bill. The title may be " Protection of the Indigenous people of Manipur Bill-2015 ".This title is appealing, . attractive, reflects the main objectives of the Bill and will be able to attract the attention of the Government of India. The second option may be the "Manipur Inner Line Permit Bill -2015", which some legal experts also suggested.

2.3 Objectives of the Bill :-The objectives of the Bill may be (1) to protect the identity , culture, lands, language, script and business of the indigenous people and permanent residents of Manipur (2) to regulate the entry , employment and settlement of migrants to Manipur .

2.4. Compulsory Registration on payment of prescribed fees with exemption clauses for students, employees of the Central government etc. Extension of Registration and Work Permit on payment of prescribed fees ma be included.

2.5. Definition of "Permanent Resident"- The definition of Permanent Resident- should be "Any person who were born or settled in Manipur prior to 18 November, 1950 ( date of abolition of Permit system)

2.6 Provision for deletion of names of foreigners and migrant workers entering Manipur after 18 November, 1950 from electoral rolls

2.7.Provision for invalidation and cancellation of Sale Deeds , Pattas (Jamabandi) of migrant workers who purchased land in Manipur after 18 November, 1950.

2.8. Provision for Work Permits- Can the Manipur Government make a provision in the Bill for issue of work permit to the outside migrants on payment of fees

2.9 Provision of punishment clauses like arrest, detention for three months , fines etc under the said Bill as permitted under the Indian Constitution ( 7th Schedule List 2 (State List Entry 64 –Offences against Laws)

2.10. All Business establishment to be run in the name of the indigenous people

2.11. If all the criteria are fulfilled, it can be done through ORDINANCE also.

3. If the Hon'ble CM decides to propose for amendment of Indian Constitution, you may kindly consider the NINE POINTS which I have published many times in various English Newspapers in Manipur for your kind consideration.

4. The Hon'ble CM may kindly consider amendment of the Manipur Land Revenue Act-1960 bringing an uniform land law for all ethnic groups in Manipur and banning the sale of land to outsiders . The Act was passed by the Indian Parliament when Manipur was an Union Territory.

What the JCILPS may do :

This is a cause which is worth fighting for and worth dying for. Rambo said " Live for nothing or die for something". We appreciate the will power, courage and sacrifice of the members of the JCILPS. You are fighting for the survival of the future generations of Manipur. The future of Manipur belongs to you.

Let us fight for our children. Let us fight for our future generations , for our motherland and for our future and for our honour. Let us fight for immortal deeds. Deeds are immortal-not the flesh. So long as we remain united, nobody on this earth can suppress you. Let us be united for a greater common cause. Let us live together or die together .

While saying so, I would like to place some suggestions for your consideration to achieve our goal.

1. Request the Hon'ble C.M to withdraw the Bill in greater public interest as soon as possible. If the Bill is not withdrawn, it will give the legitimate rights to all outsiders to purchase lands and settle in Manipur. Future amendment will be considered as violation of this right with adverse legal consequences. If we allow the Manipur State Government to go ahead with the present Bill, there will be no future for the people of Manipur.

2. Meeting His Excellency, the Governor –request His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur not to give assent to the Bill but to refer back to the Manipur State Assembly for reconsideration.

3. The Manipur State Assembly may refer it to the Assembly Select Committee as demanded by the opposition leaders .

4. Insist on Public Hearing , The State Government can organise a public hearing – where the public can place their opinions and suggestions.

5. If all of us agree on the final draft, it can be done through ORDINANCE also.

6. You may insist on appropriate definition of "Permanent Residents".

7. You may continue your campaigns and drives to cancel the names of outsiders from the Electoral rolls for migrant workers entering Manipur after 18-11-1950 after with the help of Chief Electoral Officer and the concerned Minister /MLA of the particular constituency. Write a letter to each Minister/MLA to delete the names of foreigners, migrant workers in their respective Assembly Constituencies from the electoral rolls within a time frame.

8. You may continue your campaigns and drive to cancel /invalidate the sale deeds , Pattas of outsiders who have purchased Lands after 18-November, 1950 with the help of DCs. and particular MLA of the constituency.

9. You may continue your campaigns and drives to deport the foreigners /outside migrants settled in Jiribam, Mantripukhri , Saji Tampak, etc. Foreigners settled in Jiribam , Saji Tampak from Bangladesh, Myanmar should be asked to return to their respective country. The concerned Minister /MLA of this particular constituency should be asked to initiate this action within a time frame.

10. The names of owners of all business establishment run by outsiders should be changed in the name of a permanent Resident of Manipur.

11. You may continue campaigns and drives among the Manipuri people not to buy things from the shops run by outsiders.

12. You may continue campaigns and drives to encourage purchase /marketing of our indigenous products

13. Documents like Driving Licence, Voter's ID, Ration Cards, Domicile Certificate , BPL Cards, Adhar Cards, should be subjected to verification. Taking genealogy /Family History for those who can not speak Meiteilon is another strategy.

14. You may continue campaigns and drive to restore the names of localities which the migrants have changed – Islamabad , Borobekra , Soto Bekra etc.

Concluded ...