MPP protests Shinde's ILP-snub comment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 04 2012:
Manipur People's Party leaders and workers staged a sit-in-demonstration to protest Union Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde's opposition to implement Inner Line Permit system in Manipur.
Speaking at the sidelines of the protest, held from 11 am till 3 pm today in front of the MPP office, the regional political organisation's president L Umakanta strongly condemning reported comments of the Union Minister on the issue, stated that Shinde's comment amounts to disparaging interests and sentiments of the people of Manipur.
The fact that Shinde's remark was made after the Manipur Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution to reintroduce ILP in Manipur during the recent Assembly session is even more condemnable as such a stand is an affront to the State Assembly and demeaning people of Manipur, Umakanta expressed.
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Moreover, increasing number of both migrant workers and illegal immigrants sneaking into Manipur and settling here do not suggest that the indigenous people will have a better future, he cautioned while pointing out that the demand for ILP is not to prohibit entry of outsiders but to safeguard identity and interest of the indigenous populace.
People of Manipur will continue to welcome foreign as well as domestic tourists but allowing unrestrained entry and permanent settlement of outsiders would eventually create tension and seriously disrupt the demography, the MPP president conveyed.
Permanent settlement of outsiders will also lead to demand for their political rights which in the long run would marginalise the indigenous population, he cautioned.
While informing that similar protest demonstrations would be organised at the district level in the coming days, Umakanta confided that NGOs and political organisations based in the North East region would be contacted to launch a massive campaign against influx of migrant workers and illegal immigrants in the region.
MPP youth and women front members also took part in today's protest.