Central leaders urged to back ILP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13, 2013: A joint meeting of JAC on ILP and political organisations convened today has resolved to apprise leaders of political parties in the Centre to debate on implementing inner line permit system in Manipur in the upcoming Parliament session.

It is informed that the joint meeting, held today at the JAC office and attended by its affiliated bodies and representatives of political parties, was convened in view of the Central Government's reluctance to implement ILP in Manipur inspite of the State assembly having adopted resolutions, atleast twice, to restrict entry of non-locals.

The said meeting was attended by delegates of BJP, CPI, Trinamool Congress and MPP, said a source.

Apart from those present at the meeting expressing strong resentment against the Central Government unwilling to act in sync with the State assembly's decision, JAC representatives appealed to the political parties to intimate their respective central leaders that the issue be deliberated in the Parliament.

All political parties of the State assured to inform their respective central leaderships about the factors impeding implementation of ILP in the State and to convince them to adopt a resolution favouring implementation of ILPS in the State.

The meeting was presided by JCILPS convenor Sapamcha Jadumani.

Women market vendors Rally in support of ILP system introduction in Manipur :: Pix : Deepak Oinam

The political parties also agreed to urge their respective MPs to bring up the ILP issue and favour its implementation in the State in the coming session of the Parliament.

Mentioning that when Manipur was an independent kingdom and ruled by the king all non-Manipuris used to be considered as foreigners and consequently entailed possession of permit to enter to stay in Manipur, members of the political parties also noted that after merger of Manipur into the Indian union the permit system too lapsed.

Highlighting that issues related to checking illegal entry of foreigners into Manipur and implementing ILP are asymmetric, various speakers also noted that despite existing Foreigners' Act 1947 prohibiting unauthorised entry of foreign nationals illegal immigrants managing to sneak into Manipur and settle at different locations is due to ineffective mechanism of the Government.

Expressing that the indigenous people of Manipur are in great danger of being marginalised in their own homeland if influx from larger and highly populous Indian States continues unabated, they opined that extending the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 remains the only option to protect the indigenous people of Manipur.

The speakers were also of the opinion that under Article 19(V) of the Indian Constitution, the Government of Manipur may adopt its own legislation to either prohibit entry of non-locals into the State or restrict their duration of residency.

On the otherhand, representatives of the political parties also emphasised on intensive and extensive awareness campaigns on ILP so that entry or movement of outsiders could be effectively detected/restricted.

Suggesting that peaceful democratic movements should be basis for implementing ILP in Manipur, they affirmed that political parties will not cooperate and join movements that could spark violence.