Dr Meinya takes up ILP issue in Parliament
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 29 2012: Taking up the issue of public demand for reintroduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in all the Northeastern states in general and Manipur in particular, in the Parliament today, Lok Sabha MP Dr Thokchom Meinya has described abolition of the permit system by an order of the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur Himmat Singh on November 18, 1950 as a 'tragic incident' .

Raising the issue as 'an urgent matter of public importance' during Zero Hour, Dr Meinya informed the House that on July 12, 2012, Manipur State Cabinet resolved to urge the Government of India to extend the provisions of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 to the state of Manipur.

On July 13, 2012, in consonance with the public demand for implementation of ILP system to regulate inflow of 'outsiders', the State Assembly unanimously passed a private member resolution, which read: "that the Manipur Legislative Assembly passes a resolution to extend and adopt the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 with necessary changes in the point of details to the State of Manipur and to urge the Government of India to comply the same" .

Seeking the indulgence of the House over the issue, Dr Meinya pointed out that Inner Line Permit System indeed did actually exist in the erstwhile Manipur kingdom.

"Manipur lost her independence to the British in 1891 .

At that point of time, Manipur did have a permit system for entry into and exit from Manipur �Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

On august 14 1947, when British paramountcy lapsed, Manipur had automatically regained her independence.

Manipur did have a written constitution and an elected National Assembly.

The state of Manipur remained a monarchy till October 15, 1949, when Manipur got merged into the Union of India.

On February 26, 1948, through a State Council (Cabinet) resolution, the then Government approved the retention of the above permit system in Manipur State.

However, on November 18, 1950, the then Chief Commissioner of Manipur abolished that permit system", Dr Meinya said, adding that it was a tragic incident.

"Now, the People of Manipur want the re-introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state to stop the otherwise alarming influx of illegal outsiders into the state", Dr Meinya informed the House, while urging the Union Government, the Home Ministry, in particular, to immediately look into the matter of introducing the ILP System in Manipur.

Comment