Cong blamed for MRVTMW Bill fiasco
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 10 2015 :
Rival political parties namely BJP, MPP and JD-U have lambasted the Congress party for twisting and passing an ineffective Bill with regard to the popular demand for enactment of a legislation which can protect the indigenous people of Manipur.
BJP Manipur Pradesh has accused the Congress party of passing the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVTMW) Bill 2015 in a dictatorial manner after sidelining all the key points recommended by the all political parties' committee.
The killing of Sapam Robinhood who was in school uniform at a time when the Assembly session was going on reflected complete absence of governance in the State.
Even as BJP suggested a land use policy, there was difference of opinions among members of the all parties' committee.
As a result, BJP stayed away from the committee's last round of meeting, Chaoba during a press meet at their Nityaipat Chuthek office here today.
The MRVTMW Bill was introduced and passed by the State Assembly at the whim of a single individual after overlooking most of the recommendations made by the all parties' committee.
The Bill has a clause which enables migrants to purchase land in Manipur.
This was one area where BJP raised vehement objection, Chaoba asserted.
The Bill was passed quite hastily without giving any thought of referring it to the House select committee and it was already rejected by the Governor before the commencement of the budget session.
If the Chief Minister was sagacious enough to inform the House that the MRVTMW Bill has been returned, there would not have been any uproar nor any fatality.
He appealed to the authority concerned to lift curfew and not to prorogue the House session so that the issue can be studied from all perspectives.
Chaoba said that he called on the Governor today and submitted a memorandum apart from discussing about the prevailing grave situation.
Former MLA Kh Joykisan said that he suggested the House to refer the MRVTMW Bill to the House select committee when it was introduced in the House.
But the ruling abruptly brushed aside the suggestion.
"Some MLAs including myself walked out of the House when the Bill was passed", Joykisan added.
Meanwhile, MPP president N Sovakiran has asserted that MRVTMW Bill was an exclusive Bill for the Congress party.
The Bill left out all the proposals and recommendations made by the all parties' committees and many experts.
With the exception of Congress party, all the people of Manipur have been craving for implementation of an ILP-like regulation in the State.
While strongly condemning the killing of Sapam Robinhood, Sovakiran remarked that the 27 lakh odd people of Manipur are now indebted to the late student.
JD-U Manipur unit president M Tombi has demanded withdrawal of MRVTMW Bill 2015 and introduction of a new Bill which would be acceptable to the people of Manipur in its place.
The violent protest movements and the resultant fatality was a consequence of passing the Bill which deviated asunder from the recommendations made by experts and the all parties' committee, Tombi said.
The unrest seen in the State today is a making of the Congress Government, he alleged.
He maintained that the State Government should be held accountable for the death of Sapam Robinhood.
He also conveyed solidarity to the bereaved family.
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