JCILPS Convenor-in-Charge calls for unity to fight outside forces
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 19 2015 : Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) Convenor-in-Charge Khomdram Ratan on Saturday called for unity of all communities in Manipur to fight against outside forces who are bent on disintegrating the State.

Ratan made the call at JNIMS Hospital, Porompat in the dissolution programme of ILPS Relief Committee which was opened to provide aid to those injured during the mass movement demanding implementation ILPS in Manipur.

The claims of not discussing the bills with the hill communities before passing them in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31 last is not reasonable, pointed out the JCILPS Convener-in-Charge who spoke as a special guest at the function.

He said Manipur Government took months to discuss the issue with politicians from the hills and intellectuals before passing the bills in the Assembly.

No legislators from the hill areas were against the bills when they were passed, said Ratan and reiterated that the late claims of harming the interests of the hill communities by the three bills are not justifiable at all.

JCILPS Convenor-in-Charge calls for unity to fight outside forces

The three bills do not have any provisions which could harm any interests of the people in the hill districts, he asserted.

Making his views unequivocal, Ratan pointed out that few leaders have been trying to disintegrate Manipur by misguiding the public.

He called on all communities in the State to be united and fight together against the motivated designs of those whose only aim is to disintegrate Manipur.

Recalling the past, Ratan said the erstwhile independent kingdom of Manipur and later on in the post 1948 era, the State had its own regulation to stop entry of outsiders.

The regulation was withdrawn by the then Manipur Chief Commissioner Himat Singh on November 18, 1950.Since then, Manipur became one of the favourite destinations for the outsiders in the Northeast region, claimed Ratan.

He also stressed on the point that the number of outsiders in the State are now more or less at equal level with that of indigenous people.

The JCIPLS Convenor-in-Charge also expressed the fear that the introduction of surface connectivity like railways and super highways would hasten the pace of extinction of the indigenous communities in Manipur.

He blamed the State Government for not putting pressure on the Government of India to implement ILPS at earliest.

He alleged that the State Government representatives were "afraid" of the Indian State and did not have the courage to save the indigenous people for future.

Asking the Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Mizoram not to interfere in the internal affairs of other States, Ratan also appealed all to stay far from such persons and plans to harm communal harmony in Manipur.

Expressing sadness over the Churachandpur protest violence which claimed nine lives, Ratan said that the "unwanted incident" was stirred up by few leaders who "misguided the public" on the bills.

On the occasion, Ratan also expressed gratitude to RIMS and JNIMS Relief Committee and the people on behalf of the JCILPS for the help extended to the injured persons during the nearly two-month long ILPS mass movement.

The function was attended by JNIMS Director Laishram Deven and Relief Committee JNIMS Chairman Dr Y Jogendro as Chief Guest and President respectively while Imphal East Chief Medical Officer Dr Pushpa Rai, JNIMS Hospital Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Ch Lokendro were the guests of honour.