JCILPS to stop entry of 'outsiders' from Jun 1
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 30 2013: The Joint Committee on Implementation on Inner Line Permit System in Manipur (JCILPS) has decided to launch an intense campaign of checking entry and ferrying of 'outsiders' into Manipur from June 1 to 10 .

Speaking to media persons here this afternoon, convenor of the committee Sapamcha Jadumani pointed out that the ultimatum submitted to the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Manipur on May 10 is approaching its final days.

If the Government does not come up with a definite decision regarding implementation of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur by May 31, no outsiders would be allowed entry in Manipur from June 1 to 5 and from June 6 to 10, no 'outsiders' would be allowed movement in any locality of the State.

These points were conveyed to the Government through the ultimatum, Jadumani said.

After submitting the ultimatum, JCILPS representatives held a meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi on May 20 .

File pic of non-locals at Jiribam

While terming the committee's proposed line of agitation as anti-national, Ibobi appealed to abstain from any such action.

Ibobi also made it clear that the Government would take up befitting action if the proposed agitation is not called off.

Co-convenor of the joint committee Mutum Churamani again quoted the Chief Minister as saying that enforcement of ILPS in Manipur would invite similar demands in other Indian States and it would create a big issue in the country.

The question is, whether extinction of the indigenous people of Manipur is of lesser concern than any problem arising out of implementation of ILPS.

ILPS is currently in force in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunchal Pradesh but these are not declared as anti-national states, Churamani asserted.

"If the Chief Minister is concerned about disintegration of India because of implementing ILPS in Manipur, then who would bear responsibility when all the indigenous people are wiped out after railway line reaches Imphal because of influx of outsiders into Manipur in millions?" Churamani questioned.

Another co-convenor and media coordinator Somorendro Thokchom said that the State Government is not serious about the issue.

Even as the Manipur Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution on July 13 last year in favour of implementing ILPS in Manipur, neither subject nor object was inserted when copy of the resolution was dispatched to the Ministry of Home Affairs which only exposed that the State Government was never sincere on the public called ILPS, Somorendro decried.

The Chief Minister may be unaware that 20,000 voters of Jiribam AC are outsiders as against 28,000 total voters.

Apart from that, outsiders now constitute a deciding factor during elections in many Assembly constituencies like Thangmeiband, Wangkhei, Uripok, Sagolband, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Chandel, he added.

"If the Chief Minister was afraid of disintegration of India, then why did the MLAs took a resolution in the State Assembly and sent the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs?" asked another co-convenor Md Kheiruddin.

He also added that suppression of people's movement with brute force would not bring any permanent solution.