JCILPS vows to struggle for safeguarding indigenous people
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 18 2015:
A crucial meeting of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) on Wednesday yet again rejected the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 (MRVT & MW Bill 2015) passed in the Manipur Assembly on March 16 and decided that the responsibility for safeguarding the indigenous people should be tasked with the native population only.
The meeting attended by JCILPS constituent parties and its steering committee and executive members also decided that the State Government would not be allowed to seek immediate assent of the Governor, after which the controversial Bill will become an Act that will be later introduced in the official gazette.
The committee said in a statement said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh should reflect hundred times on the passage of the Bill and his Government's efforts to make it an Act.
It dubbed the proposed Act MRVT & MW 2015 as a law exclusively meant for upholding the non-locals against the demand of JCILPS and aspiration of the people.
The committee also condemned the State Government for brushing aside the recommendation of scholars, senior political leaders and academicians before introducing the Bill in the Assembly and said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi should tender resignation over the issue.
The committee informed that all constituent parties of JCILPS have been tasked with their respective activities for launching a fresh movement to protect the indigenous people and appealed to the public to participate in the struggle.
JCILPS mentioned that the UN and the Indian Constitution permit all indigenous groups to protect themselves and their land from being engulfed and snatched away by foreigners.
Organisations demand resignation of 55 MLAs Condemning the passage of MRVT & MW Bill 2015 in the State Assembly, the Singjamei Apunba Nupi Lup and All Manipur Students Guardians Oraganisation (AMSGO) have demanded resignation of all the 55 legislators who had supported CM Ibobi in passing the Bill.