Point by point presentation placed before Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 07 2016: A team of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which is spearheading the mass campaign for enactment of a Constitutional safeguard for protection of indigenous peoples of the land held a meeting with the Chief Minister today.

A 16-member team of JCILPS led by its convenor in-charge BK Moirangcha held a meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi and his Cabinet Ministers on the ILPS issue at 3.30 pm today.

Point by point presentation placed before Govt

Briefing media persons in front of the CM Secretariat after the meeting, BK Moirangcha said that there have been some developments with regard to the popular demand.

“We still believe the Government would tackle the issue positively”, he said.

During the meeting where the Law Secretary was also present, the JCILPS leaders gave a point by point presentation of their demand and wishes.

In response, the Chief Minister assured that a Bill which would be acceptable to all stake holders would be tabled and passed before the election model code of conduct comes into force, conveyed BK Moirangcha while exuding confidence that the Chief Minister would translate his assurance into action this time.

Stating that it was the first meeting between JCILPS and the State Government after the PMP Bill 2015 was rejected by the President , BK Moirangcha conveyed that the Government invited them for another round of meeting in the next couple of days.

On being enquired about difference of opinion between the Government and JCILPS regarding cut off base year (1972 and 1951), the convenor in-charge maintained that there would be opportunity to discuss the base year proposed by JCILPS.

To a query concerning the objections raised by the JAC Against Anti-Tribal Bills, Churachandpur and some other organisations, BK Moirangcha said none of these organisations could give a convincing argument  that the Bills would infringe upon their rights and interests.

Nonetheless, the JCILPS team urged the Government to adopt a concrete decision on the matter.

“Even though the State Government has been saying that they have been consulting legal and Constitutional experts including Supreme Court lawyers, we think that the State Government has been dealing with the issue in the most casual manner”, BK Moirangcha said.

There is no element which can be treated as anti-National or unconstitutional in the draft Bill prepared by JCILPS.

If somebody think otherwise, they may point out the portions which are anti-National or unconstitutional.

If there is a law which permits assimilation of indigenous peoples, JCILPS firmly believes that it is not wrong to launch a mass struggle in order to amend such laws, BK Moirangcha said.

He added that there is no change in the position of JCILPS to carry on different forms of mass agitation until a legislation which can effectively protect indigenous peoples is enacted and enforced.