"Not all MLAs supported Bill"
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 11 2015 :
"As there was no provision for protection of indigenous people's interests in the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVTMW) Bill 2015, five MLAs including myself walked out of the House when the Bill was passed by the Assembly", asserted Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.
Speaking to media persons at his Babupara quarters today, Dr Ibohalbi reminded that the MRVTMW Bill was passed by the State Assembly on March 16 this year.
Objectives and reasons of the Bill contained nothing which even tend to protect the interest of Manipuri people and this was detected on the very first reading.
"On the contrary, the Bill turned out to be a sham exercise for protection of non-local people and I urged the House to refer the Bill to the select committee", Ibohalbi said.
Chief Minister O Ibobi introduced the Bill in the House on March 15 and it was passed the next day.
Ibohalbi said that MLAs L Ibomcha, Th Shyamkumar, K Shyam, Y Erabot, Kh Joykisan, Samuel Risom and himself pointed out that there were many loopholes in the Bill and suggested the House to refer it to the select committee.
But the Government maintained that referring the Bill to the select committee would only delay in passing it.
"As the Government enjoys absolute majority, they somehow passed the Bill but five MLAs namely K Sarat, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykisan, Samuel Risom and myself walked out of the House in the larger public interest", Dr Ibohalbi reminded.
It is rather disheartening that the general public, veteran politicians and intellectuals did not know that the five MLAs walked out of the House when the Bill was passed, Dr Ibohalbi lamented.
People know that the demand of JCILPS is quite legitimate, he added.