Govt-JCILPS talk on ILP fails to reach consensus
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 19 2014 :
In tandem with an agreement reached earlier, Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), which is spearheading the ongoing public movement for implementation of ILP system in Manipur and the State government held a meeting on the issue of ILP at the Chief Minister's Secretariat here today with Chief Minister O Ibobi in the chair but the meeting failed to bring a consensus on the issue.
However, both the sides agreed to meet again on September 22 with an aim to bring an amicable solution to the ongoing demand for enforcement of ILP system in the State to save the indigenous people from the onslaught of unchecked and unrestraint influx of outsiders.
In the marathon meeting which lasted for around three and half hours, the government side was represented by CM Ibobi; Dy CM Gaikhangam; MLA RK Anand, convener of all-political party committee on ILP; MLA Dr Ng Bijoy; N Sovakiran, president of MPP; MLA Dr I Ibohalbi; RK Shivachandra, spokesperson of BJP Manipur Pradesh; Kabita of BSP Manipur State Unit; N Mangi of CPI Manipur State Unit; Tombi, president of JD (U) Manipur State Unit; MLA I Ibomcha and representatives of CPI (M) and AAP Manipur while the JCILPS team was led by its convenor Ibotombi Khuman,; M Angamba, convener of Students' Wing; L Nganbi, convener of JCILPS Women's Wing and 12 other members.
During the meeting which has been seen an important development following the release of all all arrested ILP activists to pave way for talks, the Committee strongly urged the government to either implement ILP system or enact a State law to monitor the ever increasing influx of non-locals into the State but the demand was put on hold by the government, saying reports sought by the all-political party committee from legal and constitutional experts are still awaited.
Chief Minister O Ibobi said that reports from two Professors of Manipur University; six experts of All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and High Court Bar Association have been already submitted but reports from retired Justice and senior advocates of Supreme Court are yet to be received.
Since all the reports sought, which are vital for implementation of ILP have not reached, the government is not in a condition to put into action the demand put up JCILPS as of now, the CM clarified.
Maintaining that any State law or regulation to regulate entry of outsiders cannot be framed beyond the ambit of the Constitution, Ibobi appealed to the committee to wait for submission of reports from the legal experts and discuss together on September 22 again.
When the committee demanded suspension of Addl SP (Traffic) Y Victoria who raided office of the committee beyond her jurisdiction and narrated unwarranted conduct of Victoria and her family members towards the JCILPS members while they were in police lock up, Dy CM Gaikhangam assured them that an enquiry will be constituted into the matter and necessary action will be taken up against Victoria if she is found guilty.
Addressing a press meet soon after the meeting with the Govt at the office of United People's front (UPF) here, Ibotombi Khuman, convener of JCILPS, acknowledged the assurance given by the CM during the meeting that the government is committed to enact State law or regulation if not ILP system to monitor influx of non-locals.
However, the ongoing movement launched by the committee with support from public would continue in a democratic way, he added.
He stated that the government had been also urged to open check post at strategic areas to check illegal entry of outsiders and demanded to put into action the assurance given by the government regarding suspension of Victoria at the earliest.
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