Committee demands House Bill on ILP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 17 2013: Irrespective of previous resolutions by the Manipur Legislative Assembly reportedly unable to convince the central Government implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) System in Manipur, Joint Committee on ILPS today organised a sit-in-protest to reiterate its demand that the winter session of the State Assembly take concrete measures for the system's introduction in the State at the earliest possible.

The sit-in-protest organised by ILPS campaigners was held at the Keishampat Lairembi community hall from 11 am till 4 pm today, wherein Committee convenor H Ibotombi Khuman cautioned that in case the winter session of assembly starting tomorrow do not present a Bill for introduction of ILP in Manipur then the Committee will undertake more intense form of agitation of the issue.

Urging all the 60 legislators to take pro-active role for implementation of the System in Manipur, he also wondered why the legislation to protect the indigenous people cannot be introduced in the State when the same has been enforced in many States of the North East region.

Confiding that a Committee delegation on December 11 handed over memorandums to the Chief Minister, the Deputy CM and the Law Minister with regard to introducing a Bill on ILPS in Manipur, Ibotombi also maintained that at the earliest possible time similar missives would be sent to all the political organisations functioning in the State for mandatory inclusion of ILPS issue in the election manifesto for the coming Parliamentary polls.

Stating that relentless campaign by the Committee since 2012 led to the State Cabinet on July 12, 2012 taking a decision for introduction of ILPS in Manipur, he also noted initiatives by MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi and RK Anand resulting in the State assembly passing resolution on introduction of the same on two occasions.

As both the State Cabinet and the Assembly have clearly endorsed importance of introducing a legislation on ILPS the momentum could be sustained by presenting a Bill on the issue, he said speaking at the occasion.

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