CM Ibobi attempts to ease deadlock over MRVT & MW Bill
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 24 2015:
In an apparent attempt to ease the tension and end the stalemate over the controversial Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 (MRVT & MW Bill), Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh chaired a crucial all political party meeting here on March 23 .
During the meeting, representatives of all political party demanded the State Government to table a clear-cut report on the controversy regarding the emergence of 'a gulf of difference' between the recommendation of All Political Party Committee on ILP and the MRVT & MW Bill introduced in the House recently.
Official sources informed that CM Ibobi contended that there was little inconsistency in the Bill and made it clear that his Government was avoiding possible "collision" with the Indian Constitution while scripting a pertinent law to safeguard the indigenous people of the State.
Although the passage of the Bill had already been cleared, it still requires assent of the Governor besides formulating certain indispensable rules.
Ibobi reassured that more explicit terms can be inserted in the Bill for protecting the indigenous population and that amendment can be made later.
During the meeting, the Opposition Parties urged Ibobi to meet the representatives of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) to iron out differences over the issue so that a logical solution can be arrived at to end the impasse over the Bill.
The Opposition Parties had also reportedly urged CM Ibobi to meet JCILPS to deliberate on the issue of prohibiting selling and buying of land by non-locals.
It was reported that Manipur People's Party (MPP) and BJP skipped the meeting.
N Mangi of CPI, Ksh Shanta of CP-M and MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi and Th Shyamkumar of Trinamool Congress attended the meeting.
Besides CM Ibobi, the Congress was represented by Deputy CM Gaikhangam, Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir, MLAs Dr Ng Bijoy, RK Anand and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Francis Ngajokpa in the meeting.
MPP president N Sovakiran told Hueiyen Lanpao that his party did not attend the All Political Party meeting as the State Government has been allegedly marinating "double standard" while introducing the Bill.
However, it could not be ascertained as to why representatives of the State BJP missed the crucial meeting.