JCILPS bats for common land law
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 05 2019: Reasoning that presence of separate laws for the hills and the valley is an attempt to create divide among the people of the State, JCILPS convenor Yumnamcha Dilipkumar has said that the State should be governed by a common land law.

He also added that JCILPS demand is for the State Government to prepare a system for protecting the indigenous people of the State after the ILP system is enforced.

Dilipkumar made the statement during the release function of music video and a short film produced by Panthoibi Film Industry and dedicated to Lamjing Meira (L) Sapam Robinhood at Manipur Press Club today.

Speaking at the event, Yumnamcha Dilipkumar said that the Manipur People Bill 2018 is still awaiting assent from the President of the country and expressed disappointment at the State Government for failing to pressure the Central Government to do the needful at the earliest.

He continued that the State Government have many things yet to be completed and added that the State Cabinet had decided to form a State Population Commission but even till date, there is no news about it.

Dilipkumar conveyed that presence of different laws, like valley law and hills law, all inside the same State is a recipe for tension and disaster and opined that a common land always should govern the State.

On the other hand, speaking about the clarification by Manipur Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand that he (Khemchand) was misquoted by a local daily based in Assam regarding a news item about the ILP system, Dilipkumar argued that if what the Speaker claims is true, then he should have filed a defamation case against the said local daily.

But this did not happen, Dilipkumar said, adding that JCILPS will not accept the claim that the Manipur People Bill 2018 was passed under his (Speaker) initiative because the Bill was passed after getting a majority in the House and not simply based on his supposed initiative.

The JCILPS convenor further alleged that the Speaker's claim of signing the Bill before it was sent for getting assent, is false and explained that the said item was sent by the Deputy Secretary of the Home Department and JCILPS has the document copy to prove it.

If Speaker Khemchand is speaking the truth, then he should file a defamation case against the erring newspaper, Dilipkumar demanded.

Speaking about today's event, the JCILPS convenor explained that the function is organised in light of the memorial observation of Lamjing Meira Sapam Robinhood and informed that the music video and short film are based on historical facts and figures.

The video album will be a lesson to all about the sacrifice of Sapam Robinhood and the need for implementation of ILP in the State for the protection of the people and the future generations.

On the other hand, UCM president Sunil Karam said that the release of such a video will be of immense help and influence to the people as there are not many patriotic songs or videos based on patriotic themes.

The people should encourage such attempts to produce patriotic songs and videos, he added.

PPCM convenor N Bimol Meetei and AMWJU president Bijoy Kakchingtabam were also present at the event.

The screenplay and direction of the music video and short film was handled by AK Gyaneshori while RC Khuman and S Basanti are the producers.

The singers are Churchil and Th Loijongkhombi Chanu.

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