T Meinya bats for ILPS
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 02 2015:
The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 under which Inner Liner Permit System was enforced in Manipur was abolished in 1950.As a result, Manipur is now facing a huge demographic challenge.
This was stated by Lok Sabha MP (Inner Manipur), Dr Thokchom Meinya while participating in the discussion on commitment to India's Constitution as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebration of Dr BR Ambedkar on Nov 27 .
Dr Meinya said that the people in Manipur feel that had Manipur been merged into the Union of India as a full-fledged State at the time of the merger in 1949, most of the problems the State is now facing might not have occurred.
The fact that it remained a Part-C State with an administrator till 1950, a Union Territory and attained Statehood only in 1972 should paint the real picture, he observed.
In 1963, when the erstwhile autonomous district of Naga Hills of Assam was granted Statehood, the two princely States of Manipur and Tripura could have been granted statehood.
"We know that until Manipur attained Statehood, the people did not have any say whatsoever.
But in 1972, when Manipur was granted full-fledged Statehood, all that Manipur had before its merger with the Union of India could have been restored to Manipur by the Union Government.
These include the protection of territorial Integrity of the State, the regulatory system of entry and exit to and from Manipur by outsiders, the tribal status for all the indigenous people of the State, the re-deeming and renewal of Rs 500 tax/tribute for Kabaw Valley by the Burmese Government under Treaty of Yandaboo.
Unfortunately, these things did not happen.
Even the merger agreement had not been implemented at all and has been completely forgotten," he said.
The MP urged the Union Government to take all possible steps within the framework of the Constitution of India, to meet the aspiration of the people of Manipur in the best interest of all concerned.