IPAK recalls ILP movement
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 10 2016: Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) has said that Naga and Kuki people were also in favour of implementation of ILPS in the State.

Addressing a press conference at their Keishampat office, IPAK chairman Sapamcha Jadumani said that Kuki Inpi Manipur submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister regarding the matter in 2011 .

On the other hand, United Naga Council's general assembly of 2011-12 also took resolutions in support of ILPS implementation, he said.

Jadumani said that former MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing provided assistance when FREINDS organised press conferences from time to time.

He said that ILPS movement was initiated for the first time by Poramlen Apunba in 1990.The Lup's demand was introduced in the State Assembly for the first time by former MLA H Bidur in 1993.Jadumani further said that UCM submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding implementation of ILPS in the State when he was the president of the committee on November 20, 2004 .

Later, FREINDS was established to press the matter in 2005 and intense campaigns were carried out in 2012 and 2013, he said and added that as a result the State Cabinet and State Assembly resolved to enforce Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 in the State.

After the Union Home Ministry was requested to approve the resolution of the State Assembly on August 6, 2012, the Ministry observed that the demand was genuine.

Later, a sit-in-protest was staged at Jantar Mantar pressing the demand, Jadumani said.

He opined that most people still do not know whether their demand is ILPS or the President's assent to three Bills passed by the State Assembly.

Jadumani said that ILPS would be automatically implemented once the three Bills are approved by the President.

In Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, where ILPS is currently in force, these States have their own regulations, he said.

Jadumani said that non-locals must not be allowed to caste vote in the State until the issue of 'State native' is resolved.

If any State native has to enrol their names in the voter list of other States they need to show the relevant documents which testify deletion of their names from State's voter list to the authority concerned.

However, no such rule is enforced in the State, Jadumani said and added that a large number of non-locals had already been included in the State's voter list without any cross-check.

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