JCILPS delegates return to Imphal
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 27 2012:
The delegates of Joint Committee on inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) returned to Imphal on Tuesday after visiting New Delhi for five days during which they met with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on the issue of the implementation of ILP system in Manipur.
During the visit, 12 delegates comprising of seven JCILPS members and five student leaders from Manipur submitted memorandums to AICC president Sonia Gandhi, leaders of CPI-M, BJP, All India Trinamool Congress and NCP demanding introduction of ILP in Manipur, Joy Chingakham, co-convenor JCILPS, told a press conference held at the office of Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) here.
On their arrival in New Delhi on November 22, they first met with leaders of Manipur Students' Association, Delhi (MASAD) and other leaders of tribal student organizations.
On November 23, the seven delegates from JCILPS along with MP Meinya met with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to impress upon him for introduction of ILP in Manipur.
During the meeting which went on for more than half an hour, the JCILPS side made justification to Shinde on the demand of implementation of ILP in Manipur by the joint committee, Joy Chingakham said.
However, the Home Minister refused to give any assurance on the demand though he admitted that the demand was genuine, Joy added.
"Such refusal of assurance on the introduction of ILP in Manipur by Shinde is unfortunate," he said.
But the trip was significant, the JCILPS co-convenor added.
The people of Manipur should be aware about such non-deliverance of assurance by Central leaders on such important issue as they had declined assurance on several issues like Armed Force (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in many occasions in the past though they had said that such demands were genuine, Joy further said.
On November 24 during the visit, the delegates also submitted memorandums to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and leaders of CPI-M, BJP, Trinamool Congress and NCP with regard to the demand of ILP implementation in Manipur.
On November 25, they registered a protest against the Government on the issue of ILP by organsing a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
However, only two leaders from the Manipur People's Party (MPP) and Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) took part at the demonstration, apart from the JCILPS delegates and the student leaders.
Several political parties had earlier promised to participate at the protest.
JCILPS will meet the Chief Minister, who is now in Australia, as soon as he returns to the state to discuss the issue, Joy said and added that the joint committee will begin issuing ILP forms from November 19 to the non-Manipuris who are considered illegal migrants if the Chief Minister fails to bring solution to the issue.
The agitation by JCILPS will continue as the demand for introduction of ILP has not yet been fulfilled, Joy said and appealed to the public and all the NGOs in the state to support the agitation.
All the delegates of JCILP and five leaders of student organizations-Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), All Manipur Student's Union (AMSU), Student Union of Kangleipak (SUK), Student Welfare Association of Kangleipak (SWAK) and Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA)-- were also present at the press conference.
Comment
