Amendment Bill will not affect tribal interests: Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 31 2015: The Council of Ministers of the incumbent Government has appealed to all the people not to perceive the State Government in wrong light and refrain from any activity that has the potential to polarise hill people and plain people.

With Chief Minister O Ibobi in the chair, the Council of Ministers held an emergency meeting this afternoon and deliberated on the voices of objection and dissent raised by KSO-Ghqs, ANSAM and ATSUM against the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The Ministers were of the view that the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2015 would not infringe upon the interest of hill people in any manner.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Government spokesman M Okendro stated that the Bill to amend MLR&LR Act 1960 is aimed at checking sale of land to non-Manipuri people or non-permanent residents.

According to the amendment Bill, if any non-Mani- puri people/non-permanent resident wishes to buy land, he should first submit an application to the concerned Deputy Commissioner stating the purpose and utility of the land.

After the application is enquired at the level of DC, a report would be submitted to the State Government.

After studying the report, the Government would table it before the State Cabinet.

If the Cabinet does not give permission, the application would be rejected, Okendro elaborated.

MLR&LR Act 1960 is applicable only in the four valley districts and a small portion of Churachandpur district.

The Act is not applicable in all the hill districts.

Non-tribal people are still not allowed to buy land in hill areas of the State.

That was why the Hill Areas Committee was not consulted before the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2015 was introduced in the Assembly.

The proposed amendment does not infringe upon Article 371C of the Indian Constitution.

Even though the HAC was not consulted, the whole exercise does not imply any tendency to forfeit the rights of hill people.

The Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015 with the primary objective of constitutional safeguard to all the indigenous people of Manipur, irrespective whether one lives in the hills or the valley.

This was agreed by all the Ministers present at the meeting.

The meeting further decided to appeal to all sections of people not to spread propaganda and carry out agitation which has the potential to polarise hill people and plain people, Okendro conveyed.

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