ILP not foolproof against CAA : MPCC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 22 2019: Contending that the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) is not a foolproof safeguard against Citizenship Amend-ment Act (CAA), 2019 and its adverse impacts on the people of Manipur and the country at large, Congress party has vowed to fight against CAA relentlessly.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here this afternoon, MPCC general secretary and Congress spokesman Kh Deva- bratta condemned the BJP Central leaders' assertion that the country-wide agitation against the CAA 2019 was instigated by Congress.

Saying that there is no change to the Congress party's position on CAB and CAA, Devabratta asserted that Act is both anti-social and anti-Constitutional.

The Act is a direct threat to the Muslims and all minority communities, he said.

ILP not foolproof against CAA : MPCC

Congress party condemns the acts of violence committed in the course of the anti-CAA protests as well as the brutality committed by security forces in their attempts to suppress the people's voice, he said.

He maintained that the public uproar would not subside with the BJP's allegation that it was instigated by Congress.

The country-wide protests are spontaneous and it is a civil movement to protect the rights of each citizen and also the integrity of the country, Devabratta said.

He then urged the Central Government to withdraw the CAA 2019 by taking into consideration the indomitable spirit behind the country-wide protests.

All the immigrants, irrespective of their religions, who came to the country for economic reasons are some sort of invaders.

ILPS would not be able to ward off all the drastic effects which would be brought by CAA in the State, he cautioned.

Another MPCC general secretary Hareswar Goswami said it would be wrong to assume that the foreigners' issue has been solved with the extension of ILPS to the State.

The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 does not spell out any scheduled area for ILPS whereas the Foreigner Protected Area Order 1958 clearly defines the scheduled area, he said.

When Congress party was in power, the State Assembly adopted a resolution in 2013 to enforce the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 in the State but the Assembly resolution was turned down by the Central Government.

It was only recently that the Central Government agreed to extend ILPS to the State, Hareswar said.

ILPS is basically an internal system while CAA deals with foreigners.

The two issues are quite different.

The anti-CAA protests raging in areas where ILPS and 6th Schedule are already implemented should not be taken lightly, he added.