Fresh round of agitation on the card ; JCILPS rolls up sleeves, again
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 29 2015 :
After a brief lull, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has once again called upon all the indigenous people of Manipur to share the collective responsibility of safeguarding their own identity and resources from the onslaught of influx from outside the State.
Reminding that the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill which was passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 16 this year was rejected by the masses, JCILPS lamented that the indigenous people can no longer rely on the State Government to come up with a political solution to the ever exacerbating issue of influx.
According to a press release issued by JCILPS publicity committee co-convenor W Ananda Meetei, renewed mass awareness campaigns have been launched since May 24 by holding street corner meetings, distribution of posters and leaflets.
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The message of the renewed campaign is "Let's carry out the mission" and it is based on five premises which are 'Give work to indigenous people', 'Let's stop leasing/renting out rooms/houses to non-locals', 'Let's buy commodities only from local shopkeepers', 'Let's stop selling land to non-indigenous people and 'Let's stop buying things from non-local people' .
It then called upon the masses to launch renewed mass movements until the demands forwarded to the Government are fulfilled.
Enforcement of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur is the foremost demand.
Withdrawal of MRVT&MW Bill, adoption of 1951 as base year for identification of non-local people, prohibition on non-local people from entering Manipur without permits, protection of indigenous people, prohibition on non-local people from becoming land owners and removal of non-local people from the State's voters list are the other demands, JCILPS reminded.
It appealed to all the masses to struggle relentlessly and collectively until all these demands are fulfilled.
On May 25, street corner meetings and poster campaigns on the growing need for ILPS or a similar mechanism were held at Singjamei Keithel, Kakwa Keithel, MU Gate Canchipur, Lilong Chajing Keithel, Checkon Crossing and Nongmeibung.
Similar campaigns were carried out at Ningthoukhong Keithel, Bishnupur Keithel, Oinam Keithel and Nambol Keithel the next day.
Wabagai Keithel, Sekmaijin Keithel, Phoubakchao, Mayang Imphal, Thongkhong Lakshmi Keithel, Wangoi Keithel, Samurou Keithel and Hiyangthang hosted such mass awareness programmes on May 27 .
Street corner meetings and poster campaigns were also held at Moirangkhom, New Keithelmanbi, Khumbong Keithel, Sagoltongba, Patsoi Keithel, Langjing, Sagolband Khamnam Leirak, Tera Keithel, Iroisemba, Samusang, Naoremthong Keithel and Singda on May 28 .
The campaign would go on at different places of the State in the coming days too, it added.