House withdraws MRVT&MW Bill
Political parties galvanized; meeting to be held today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 15 2015 :
The Manipur Legislative Assembly on Wednesday withdrew the controversial "Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill 2015" which was passed on March 16 last.
Okram Ibobi assured the House a new bill to be drafted after consultation with legal and constitutional experts and others will be introduced in the House within 3 months.
The Chief Minister gave a detailed statement on the need to summon the special session and why there was the need to withdraw the Bill.
Moving the resolution, Ibobi said "Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 was introduced in the State Assembly on March 13 last and the same was passed on March 16.The Bill was introduced after thorough discussion with Committee which comprised representatives of all political parties of Manipur and legal experts." However, Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System has been launching agitations demanding the withdrawal of the Bill.
The Chief Minister said "State Cabinet had earlier decided to withdraw the Bill since people are against of it.
Today, the Bill is being moved in Assembly Session for withdrawal.
A new Bill will be drafted and passed within three months.
If the preparation of the Bill completes in 15 days then Assembly can be summoned at that point of time to pass the Bill.
Assembly will not be prorogued but adjourned sine-dine" .
"We have discussed the withdrawal of the bill that has been reserved by Governor after being passed by the House.
We found out that in West Bengal, two bills that were passed by the Assembly, Kolkata Unani Medical Hospital Handing Over and Taking Over Bill and Vawola Handing Over Taking Over Bill, were withdrawn after the Governor reserved them for President's consideration" .
The Chief Minister further said that the JCILPS' demands include "deportation" of non-locals, restriction on non-locals acquiring lands, granting pass or permit to outsiders while they enter the state.
He said implementing all these were not an easy task.
Meanwhile, a press note issued by Secretary to Chief Minister stated that considering the urgency of the matter and the people's growing demand, an All Political Party Meeting is being scheduled on July 16 at 9.00 am to discuss the time line and road map to be followed in preparing a new bill with an aim to protect the indigenous people of Manipur within the ambit of the Constitution of India.
JAC calls bandh today .
Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the brutal killing of Robinhood had called a "State wide bandh" starting 6 am till 6 pm on Thursday.
It also calls for support from local clubs and civil society organizations.
The bandh is being called in protests against the delaying tactics of the State Government who had announced three months time in introducing a bill on ILPS.