Day: June 8, 2013

Imphal Jun 8 MNS UNA : Volunteers of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) picked by the police during a series of raids in offices of the civil and student organisations on Friday were released on bail by the court on Saturday.
Soon after the release, the leaders of the students’ wing of the JCILPS announced that the committee would continue the campaign until government takes up necessary steps for the introduction of the ILP system in the state.
All together 28 volunteers of the JCILPS including leaders were picked up by the police in raids at the offices of the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and other civil organisations located in Imphal.
Nineteen of them were rounded up by the Imphal West police while the remaining nine by the Imphal East police in connection with the drives against non-locals staying in the state as part of pressurising the government for introduction of inner line permit system in the state of Manipur.
The drive was being conducted under aegis of the students’ wing of the JCILPS.
Police produced them in the court of Imphal West Chief Judicial Magistrate and Subordinate District Magistrate (SDM) of Imphal East respectively today with a prayer for further remand in the police custody after booking them under section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) related with breach of peace and tranquillity.
However, the courts released them on PR bond.
Soon after the released of the volunteers, convener of the students’ wing of JCILPS Angamba Meetei announced that the committee would not retreat from the ongoing campaign, addressing a press conference held at DESAM office at Keishampat.
He said that they would go ahead with various form of campaign to the demand for implementation of ILP system in the state.
He claimed that the student wing along with the parent body of the joint committee have successfully conducted the drive pushing back non-locals who were trying to enter the state during the 5 days long campaign banning non-locals visiting Manipur.
“It is unfortunate that the government has failed to acknowledge the demand of the people,” Angam lamented while condemning the government action against the ILP campaigners.
He further said that the chief minister should understand that the demand for implementation of the ILP was not an unconstitutional one. The system was being implementing in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
Drawing the attention of the legislators of the Manipur Assembly and urging them to take the matter seriously, he appealed them to put up the matter in the house of the upcoming Assembly session due to commenced from Monday (June 10).
Meanwhile Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh has cautioned not to cross a line to those who are demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state on Saturday.
O. Ibobi was speaking in a one day political conference of minority at Congress Bhawan here in Imphal.
The government will not be silent spectator if any one try to take a law in his hand, government is trying in its level in preventing a migration of foreigner into the state even as many has been deported by the government said the CM.
But no one has right to stop any Indian citizen from entering the state as they are not a foreigner, the assembly has also already amend and send to the government regarding the re-implementation of ILP in the state so lets wait for the response from the central government added Ibobi.
Coming on another topic the CM also said that the government trying its best in opening of separate minority directorate as the government is fully committed in upliftment of the minority in the state.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/do-not-cross-limits-cm-arrested-ilp-activits-released/

Imphal Jun 8 UNA NNN : The Autonomous District Council Co-ordination Committee (ADCCC), an apex of members of the autonomous district councils in Manipur Saturday alleged that state government has failed to keep its promises of devolving powers to the ADCs.
The committee further threatened of a series of agitations to press the state government for speeding up the process of devolution of powers to the six ADCs in hill districts of Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Chandel.
Three years had already completed since the elections to the six ADCs held, no power has been devolved lamented secretary Hemjathang Khongsai of the committee, during a press conference held at Manipur Press Club, Imphal today.
The secretary said “Despite completion of three years of being elected, the proposed and necessary devolution of power which has been the point of contention of the elected members has not been devolved till date.”
The absence of executive powers has rendered the ADC members powerless and redundant. Despite repeated appeals and submission of memorandums to the chief minister and the Governor on varius occasions, no concrete steps had been taken up so far, he lamented.
This has prompted the committee, consisting of 26 members each from 6 districts making a total of 156 members to resolve and demand the state government to discuss and come out with a favourable decision in the upcoming monsoon session of the Assembly that would commenced from the June 10.
The elected members were still confident of a satisfactory outcome for such a long time after government had promises for devolution of powers to the ADCs.
He further threatened to launch a series of agitations and non-cooperation form of protest which would include giving up of their titles and designations, seeking the support of those who have vehemently opposed the election and returning to their respective areas to carry out the next step in their protest in consultation with the various groups and individuals whose point of opposing the ADC election has begun to be shown as true.
M Ngalangzar, convenor and Ram Wangdin, member of the committee attended the press conference.
All the elected 156 members of the six ADCs, who had encountered quite a lot of grave situations amidst threats from various circles for being candidates for the ADC elections and the threats they faced in the post-elections period , have been befooled by the Governor, Hemjathang accused.
Although the state Cabinet has decided to arrange a separate budget for the ADCs, the people have seen it only in the media, he alleged.
Convenor of the committee, M Lanja also expressed unhappiness over the remarks of the Education minister that the RMSA and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) schemes must not be allowed to implement by the ADCs though many Acts mention that on top of the 26 Government Departments, several Central funded schemes may be implemented by the ADCs.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/adc-members-demand-devolution-of-powers/