No end in sight to ILP stir
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 20 2014: Taking forward the ongoing public demand for enforcement of Inner Line Permit System in the State to save its indigenous people from rampant influx of outsiders, a joint meeting of the women vendors of four Khwairamband Market sheds including street vendors convened at GM Hall here today has pledged to launch a series of intense agitation jointly until the system is put in place.

Around 500-600 women vendors attended the meeting which was organized by Road Side Vendors Welfare Association, Khwairamband Keithel.

The joint meeting also resolved to not allow any male to sell wares inside the historic Khwairamband Market which is meant only for women.

Addressing the massive gathering, Th Somorendro, co-convener of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) stated that the collective demand for implementation of ILP system in the State has not erupted all of a sudden but it is a long standing demand of the people to save the indigenous people who are facing serious threat from unchecked entry of outsiders.

No end in sight to ILP stir

He pointed out that non-locals residing in the State will not be victimized or discriminated after the system is implemented.

Instead, it will monitor their presence by providing them valid identification documents.

Lambasting the government for failing to implement the system for the last many years despite adoption of resolutions in the Assembly twice, he noted that the number of outsiders will be increased to an alarming rate after the railway line gets operational.

The coming of railway in the State will automatically lead to mass influx of outsiders from different parts of the country and the government must be aware of this, he added.

Pointing out the major business establishments in the city have already been captured by outsiders, he appealed to the women vendors to extend full co-operation to the ongoing movement for implementation of ILP system.

Today's meeting was attended by T Surbala and RK Sanahanbi, representatives of New Market; S Premila and S Bilasini, representatives of street vendors; L Mema, representative of Purana Market and Mutum Churamani, representative of JCILPS as Presidium Members.

Meanwhile, extending solidarity to the ongoing public demand for ILP implementation in the State, Sangaithel to Imphal All Route Owners' & Drivers' Association (SIARODA) took out a protest rally from Sangaithel Bus Parking today.

The rally, which was attended by Tata Magic and diesel auto drivers, was heading towards Imphal when security personnel stopped it at Sagolband Tera Bazar area.

On the other hand, demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), Jiribam staged a sit in protest at Gularthol Bazar, Jiribam today.

The Sit in protest was participated by the Civil Social Ogranisations, Students' Organisations of Jiribam as well as women folks of Gularthol Bazaar.

Similar protest demonstrations including formation of human chains were also witnessed from Kakwa to MU Gate; Kabow Leikai, near Kids' School, and Luwangsangbam community hall.

Last night, a torch rally was also taken out at Nambol Khabi to exert pressures on the Government for implementation of Inner Line Permit system.