Govt urged to include experts in drafting committee
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 03 2018:
A Whatsapp group "We Support ILP" has appealed the State Government to include experts who have ample knowledge about Inner Line Permit System in the drafting committee.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, Sapamcha Jadumani, convener of the Whatsapp group, said that the members of the group held a meeting at Manipur Press Club today in connection with issues concerning ILP in the State.
He explained that the group will support any kind of movement launched by JCILPS for the implementation of ILP system in the State and clarified that the group is not a parallel organization of the ILP movement.
He claimed that there was a big mistake in the Protection of Protection of Manipur People Bill which was passed by the State Government in 2015 as the Bill allowed the non locals to buy/ purchase land in any part of the State by obtaining prior approval from the authority concerned and added that it is fortunate the said Bill was not approved by the Centre.
Jadumani claimed that the demand for Inner Line Permit System in the State started from 1999 onward by different organizations from time to time before the protest was spearheaded by JCILPS.
He said that the State Government should approach the Central Government for the adoption of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which is imposed in three neighbouring States of Manipur.
Questioning why the same cannot be adopted in the State, Jadumani said that it would be much easier for the Government and further urged the State Government to include those who have good knowledge about ILP System in the drafting committee.
He also urged all those concerned not to include any section/ sub section or clause which will allow purchasing of land by non locals in the State.
If the base year for non local is 1951, then should those who settled in the State before 1951 be considered as indigenous people, he asked and reasoned that unchecked influx of non local immigrants in different parts of the State began many years back from the said year.
He continued that they are not going to remain silent if any kind of clause or section which are against the interest of the indigenous peoples of the state is included in the draft Bill.