Cabinet resolves on ILPS in third sitting, to urge Centre for its extension to State
Committee calls public emergency to mount pressure
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 12 2012: Barely a few hours after the Joint Committee on Implementation of Inner Permit System in Manipur had decided to launch a public emergency to exert more pressure, the State Cabinet has resolved to urge the Centre to extend the provision of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Reglation, 1873 to the State of Manipur to pave the way for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System.

Significantly the Cabinet managed to come to a definite stand in its third sitting on the same issue.

Earlier the Congress Legislature Party also met, for the third time, to discuss the same matter.

The Cabinet met this afternoon to discuss a one point agenda, Introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State of Manipur, amid mounting pressure to check the influx of migrants to the State of Manipur.

Speaking to reporters this evening, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the Cabinet has resolved to approach the Centre to extend the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 .

All Congress MLAs were present during the media briefing.

A torch rally staged to demand to enforcement of ILPS in the State

Fielding questions from the reporters, the Chief Minister said the Cabinet had to take the decision, despite the earlier missive from the Union Home Ministry that the ILPS is beyond the ambit of the State.

When reporters asked whether the approach would help, in the face of the earlier intimation from the Centre, the Chief Minister said that it the duty of the Cabinet here to take a stand on the matter.

The Chief Minister further said that the issue would be discussed on the floor of the Assembly tomorrow and asserted that the Government is serious about the issue.

Meanwhile taking the ongoing campaign for enforcement of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur to another level, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System has announced a 24 hour 'public emergency' with effect from this midnight.

Talking to media persons at Palace Compound office of HERICOUN this afternoon, convenor of the committee Sapam Jadumani expressed hope that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who once defied a strong instruction from the Centre would shoulder a momentous responsibility this time too together with his MLAs and enforce ILPS in the State so that the indigenous communities of Manipur can safeguard their identities and live as a vibrant nation for centuries to come.

It is also people's expectation that the incumbent Government would re-adopt the earlier decision taken in favour of extending ILPS in Manipur.

Jadumani appealed to all the Ministers and MLAs to support the endeavor for extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation to Manipur which is currently in force in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

Any MLA or Minister who tries to sideline or stay away from any debate in the State Assembly revolving around ILPS should be published in media.

"As for the follow up action against them, people would decide it", Jadumani asserted.

But the committee would impose a social boycott and declare them as anti-national and black sheep who are happy to turn the Manipuri Nation into a hybrid Nation.

In case the State Assembly cannot take a definite decision during the ongoing session to enforce ILPS in Manipur, the railway track laying work would be prohibited with immediate effect until ILPS is enforced in Manipur.

Even if the Government is dragging its feet, unable to take a concrete decision, the committee together with the people would declare de facto enforcement of ILPS in the State with effect from July 14, Jadumani said.

He also appealed to all the inter-State bus service operators and transporters to stop transportation of non-indigenous people into the State.

He also condemned the authority's act of chaining the legs and forced feeding of KB Sharma who is on a fast unto death stir to demand the enforcement of ILPS in Manipur.

Saying that it is a highly abominable and inhumane conduct, Jadumani demanded befitting action against the haughty police officer(s) .