JCILPS lines up Statewide sit-in-protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 19 2016 :
The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which has been spearheading the mass movement for introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State to safeguard the native populace of Manipur has called upon the people of Manipuri to stage relay hunger strike skipping lunch on August 20 from 9 am to 4 pm (chara nama henba) against the arrest of former convener Khomdram Ratan on August 17 by Manipur Police.
Addressing media persons today at their office located at Sega Road Konjeng Hazari Leikai, convener-in-charge BK Moirangcha condemned the harsh attitude shown by the State police force while arresting Kh Ratan who was staging a peaceful relay hunger strike at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai on August 17 around 11 pm.
He said that the former leader of JCILPS was participating in a relay hunger strike against the wanted tag placed upon him at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai from 11 am.
But the State police force terrorized the peaceful demonstrators with tear gas shells and mock bombs and arrested Ratan, he added.
Such brutal acts meted out by the State police force toward innocent civilians defied democratic norms and it should have never happened if there was any law in the State, he asserted.
JCILPS has been demanding a law to save the native populace of Manipur from demographic imbalance created by high influx of outsiders both from India and neighbouring countries.
Now the State Govt has drafted a new Bill after the PMP Bill was withheld by the President of the country.
The joint committee will place their opinion on the proposed Bill after due consultation at the people's convention scheduled on August 21 at Imphal, he added.
He also mentioned that the proposed Bill to protect the indigenous people of Manipur has huge variance with the demands placed by JCILPS.
Further he warned that if the State Govt fails to bridge the differences, the apex body that has been spearheading the mass movement for protection of native people of Manipur will launch a series of protest and the JCILPS is well prepared to face any consequences.
He also urged the right thinking citizens of Manipur, Meira Paibi organizations and student bodies to raise the following slogans while staging the sit-in-protest on August 20 "We condemn declaration of Ratan as a wanted man and the subsequent arrest", "Ratan's arrest cannot suppress the mass movement" and "The Government order which declared Ratan as a wanted man should be revoked immediately" .