Influx of non-locals and demand to enforce ILPS...Eminent personalities speak out
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 09 2015 :
Popular art and culture personalities of the State have opined that the present pro-ILPS movement spearheaded by JCILPS is justifiable.
Noted filmmaker Oken Amakcham said that being an artiste and a State native, he is concerned about the influx of non-locals into the State and their growing population.
Being a tiny community, State natives have the right to think for their future and protect their identity.
At this critical juncture, he questioned, why the elected MLAs are not discussing the issue in the ongoing Assembly session despite people's constant demand.
Which matter should be discussed in the State Assembly if the MLAs are not worried about people related issues, he questioned.
Stating that people have been demanding implementation of ILPS since the past many years, Oken said that he is pained by the loss of life of a young student.
Shumang Leela playwright Phurailatpam Gunachandra Sharma said that although the present pro-ILPS movement is justifiable, the Government has overlooked the need of the hour and doing things which could have been avoided.
Theatre director Naba Wareppa said that it is high time for the State Government to take the issue seriously.
It would be wrong if the Government thinks that no demand would be fulfilled without the loss of life, he said.
The future of the State is bleak if the present trend continues, he observed.
Noted singer Laishram Birendrakumar said that most of the singers of Manipur do not have the knowledge of folk singing.
It is the fallout of the prolonged neglect of State's culture and adoption of other States' culture, he opined.
He said that in Tripura, indigenous Tripuri people have been outnumbered by outsiders.
Popular dance Guru Indira said that the State Government has been turning a deaf ear to the demand for ILPS implementation.
She also condemned the police action against the students who were staging their protest democratically.
Saying that some people have a wrong notion that State natives living in other States for studies and employment would be harassed if the pro-ILPS movement is intensified, Indira said that the present movement does not intend to flush out non-locals from the State but to regulate their exit and entry.
If the non-locals are allowed to settle in Manipur permanently, indigenous people of the State would become a minority community within 20 years, she said.