CM limits time frame to one month
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 16 2015 :
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has urged the all political parties committee on ILPS to draft a new Bill which would be acceptable to the general public within a month.
A meeting of the all political parties" committee on ILPS was held today in the conference hall of the Chief Minister"s Secretariat with O Ibobi in the chair.
The meeting deliberated on the popular demand for enforcement of ILPS in the State or enactment of a similar mechanism and the resultant disturbance to public order.
The meeting also reviewed the ugly incidents which resulted from confrontations between police and protesters.
However MPP and BJP representatives were not present at the meeting.
The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVTMW) Bill which was passed by the Assembly on March 16 this year in the wake of sustained, extensive mass protest movements was withdrawn, in accordance to a resolution adopted by the State Assembly, during a special session held yesterday.
In its place, the Chief Minister proposed to draft and pass a new Bill which can effectively protect the common interests of the State"s indigenous people.
However, the JCILPS insisted that the State Assembly should prepare and pass a new Bill within 15 days.
They also demanded that the Assembly Secretariat should issue an official notification by 4 pm today about convening another special session of the House.
According to information received here, the political parties" meeting welcomed the decision to withdraw the MRVTMW Bill 2015 and the participants recommended the Government to draft a new Bill for protection of indigenous people within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
They further recommended constitution of a (Bill) drafting committee and due consultation with JCILPS leaders and other experts in the course of drafting the Bill.
They also appealed to the JCILPS to extend cooperation, by suspending the ongoing agitation, to the efforts of the all political parties and the State Government in bringing out a new Bill at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi has appealed to the JCILPS to join the Bill drafting committee and be a part of the process of drafting the Bill.
Highlighting the need to consult all stake holders and experts, Ibobi offered to bear the expenditure of consulting Constitutional experts of Supreme Court in order to draft a flawless Bill.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam stated that police excesses, if there is any with regard to the ongoing mass agitation, can be discussed jointly.