Many protest against Bill passed in Assembly ; MRVT and MW Bill open to discussion : CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 17 2015: The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill which was passed in the State Assembly yesterday is open to discussion and deliberation.

The door is kept wide open for discussion of the Bill by the public, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi remarked today while adding that the Bill is amendable.

The CM was speaking to reporters this morning on the sideline of his visit to victims of the Khwairamband blast and the accident in Nagaland at RIMS and JNIMS hospitals.

Moment after the Bill was passed in the Assembly yesterday, the JCILPS has been spearheading different forms of agitation demanding the withdrawal of the Bill.

Dubbing the Bill as a sell out, the JCILPS has rejected the Bill outright.

A migrant porter carries a bag of goods in the keithel area of Imphal

Different forms of protests were taken out today.

Fielding a query from the media persons, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the Bill is amendable.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced to Rs 5 lakh each to the deceased victims of the Khwairamband blast incident as ex-gratia.

He also announced payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the critically injured victims.

Although there is no provisions to pay compensation to the victims of the bus accident at Nagaland, the State Govt, on humanitarian consideration, is deciding to extend possible assistance to the victims.

JCILPS bats for CM's resignation : Accusing the Chief Minister of deceiving the people and disrespecting the resolution of the House, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has strongly demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister on moral ground.

In a statement, JCILPS said that the statement of the CM, who said that 75 percent of the recommendations made by the all political parties committee on ILPS was incorporated in the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill, which was passed in the Assembly yesterday, was an act of deceiving the people.

The JCILPS also strongly criticised the remarks of the CM who said that the Bill is amendable.

Sit-in-protests staged : A day after the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant workers Bill 2015 was passed in the State Legislative Assembly yesterday, various organisations/committees all over the State erupted into mass protests demanding immediate removal of the Bill.

Paona Bazar Apunba Meira Paibis staged a sit-in-protest from 11 am till 4 pm expressing disapproval of the new Bill.

Calling for immediate removal of the Bill, Paona Bazar Apunba Meira Paibi representative H Tombi Devi, at the sidelines of the protests, said the new Bill does not fulfil the demands of the people.

With placards inscribed with slogans like new Bill should not be implemented, the State must understand the demands of the people, remove/replace the new Bill etc, sit-in-protests were staged at Luwangshangbam Khabam Lamkhai, Khurai Ahongpung, Porompat, Pureiromba, Angom Leikai, Kongba Leikai, Kongba Bazar, Khabam Heikru Makhong, Wakha, Wangkhei Meihoubam Lampak, Naharup Mayai Leikai, Bamon Kampu, Sagolmang, Khurai, Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai, Kwakeithel Haorakchambi, Singjamei Chinga Makha, Singjamei Chinga Mathak, Pishum Thong, Lamshang, Lairenkabi, Heiranggoithong Maibam Leikai, Wangoi Bazar, Naran Sena and Sunu Siphai today.