Demand for ILP raised on 33rd Realisation Day
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 17 2013: In remembrance of the two student activists, namely Potsangbam Lukhoi alias Premananda and Huidrom Loken who were killed in police firing during the agitation over foreigners' issue in Manipur on April 17, 1980 spearheaded by All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), the 33rd Realisation Day (Mikap Thokpa Numit) was observed today.

The function kick-started along with unfurling of the flag of AMSU atop Pishum Chinga Macha by ex-President of AMSU Abhiram Mongjam, who is now the Deputy Director of MACS, and it was followed by offering of rich floral tributes at the memorial site located at Pishum Chinga Macha.

People in thousands including students, volunteers and representatives of various CSOs of the State were present on the occasion.

After the floral tributes, the main function of the observance was held at the nearby Pishum Hao Ground.

Students offering floral tributes on the occasion of 33rd Realisation Day at Chinga Macha

Delivering the key note address of the observation, Romen Leishangthem, General Secretary of AMSU, stated that the extinction and disappearance of certain indigenous communities from the face of this earth is not a new thing.

Even today there are certain tribes and communities who are on the verge of extinction, and the Manipuri society is among them.

He pointed out that earlier when Manipur was an independent kingdom, it made all measures to safeguard the indigenous people settling in the State.

Even during the time of British rule, Inner Line Permit (ILP) System was put in place to protect the indigenous people.

However, after Manipur became a part of Indian Union on October 15, 1947, ILP system was removed.

Since then influx of illegal migrants into the State has remained unabated.

Today, there is no place in the whole of the State where the non-Manipuris have not settled.

Though division has been created among the native people by MLR and LR Act by imposing restrictions on people from the plains to settle in the hills, there is no restriction on outsiders from settling in different parts of the hill districts of the State, he observed.

Romen went on to point out that in accordance to the 2001 census report, 30% of the total population in Manipur is illegal migrants.

However, the State Government has kept the population of the illegal migrants as a secret.

This has clearly indicated that the State Government is trying to eliminate the indigenous population and turn Manipur into a State of illegal migrants.

Considering the need to safeguard the indigenous people of the State, AMSU launched an agitation on April 17, 1980 during which two student activists namely Potsangbam Lukhoi alias Premananda and Huidrom Loken were killed in police firing.

Ever since that day, AMSU has been observing April 17 every year as Realisation Day, he said, while exhorting the gathering to come together and pressed the concerned authority for re-implementation of ILP in the State for the protection of the indigenous people.

The function was also attended by Abhiram Mongjam, Deputy Director of MACS as Chief Guest.

Y Nabachandra, President of UCM; Naresh Thiyam, President of AMSU; Lairenjam Gojendro, Lecturer of Economics Department, Manipur College and Dr Gambhir, Reader in English Department, Manipur University were also present as Guests of Honour.

KT Rehman, President of AMUCO and Umakanta, President of MSF were resource persons of the function.