Joykisan calls for collective ILPS efforts
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 05 2018:
Congress party spokesperson and Thangmeiband AC MLA, Khumukcham Joykisan has said that it is not right to leave the task of ensuring implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State to the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) and that it is the collective responsibility of the indigenous communities of the State to ensure their survival through implementation of ILPS.
Speaking as the chief guest the 54th foundation day of Northern Students' Club, Khundrakpam, today, Kh Joykisan said that ILP can be implemented in the State only when the indigenous people come together and mount increased pressure over the State Government to introduce a Bill and pass it in the Assembly.
He claimed that a difficult question has cropped up as to whether the large number of Muslims who have been sidelined by the Citizenship Act in Assam, will be sent back to Bangladesh or pushed into Manipur.
Stressing on the need to pass a Bill to protect the indigenous people of Manipur, Joykisan stated that taking into account the developing situation, it is high time for the people to unite and demand for swift implementation of ILP system in the State.
Claiming that the Congress party had raised the said issue numerous times in the House as well as before the media, the MLA said that the Congress party has also launched many agitation/protests in the past in connection with ILP implementation in the State and will continue to pressure the State Government in the future.
Joykisan said that all the aforementioned steps will not be possible without support and cooperation from the people.
If the people keep silent, waiting for JCILPS to always lead/ initiate actions, it is the indigenous people/community of the State which will be worst affected in the future, he said, adding that the people should not forget that it is their collective responsibility to ensure implementation of ILP system in the State.
Snubbing the claims of the BJP led State Government that the relations between the hills and the valley have improved, the MLA asked for proof regarding any instances in the past which showed any glaring divide between the people of the hills and the valley.
The Congress party won nine seats out of a total of 20 seats in the hills due to the trusts of the people of the hill areas.
None of the political party were able to get as much number of seats as the Congress party in the hill areas, Joykisan claimed.
The present BJP led State Government is able to establish good relations with NSCN (IM), a feat which was impossible for the then Congress Government, Joykisan said in a sarcastic tone.
Joykisan claimed that the Congress party took up endless number of development projects for the hill areas of the State.
The party do not harbour ill feeling towards NSCN (IM) and warmly welcomes the organisation for coming to the mainstream.
However, the Congress party will never agree to any terms or motives/agenda which will harm the territorial integrity of the State, he added.
He stated that although BJP initially alleged that the Congress party was organising protests to take political advantages, but during the Assembly session both BJP and NPF had to admit that the Congress party's demands were indeed the demands of the people.
Numerous Manipuri women have been protesting at Delhi against the mysterious disappearance of Taorem Bittoo and the death of Chanam Pravish.
The protests regarding the death of Chanam Pravish should not be handled only by the Public Action Committee nor the victim's family.
The people of the State must work together to bring justice and a concrete solution regarding the case, he conveyed.
MLA K Meghachandra was also present at the event.
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