Appeal for release of fund

All Manipur United Disabled Organisation has claimed that the financial assistance and employment allowance 2013 14, marriage incentive and grant in aid for the year 2014 15 given by NGO for the disabled have not been released by the social welfare min…

All Manipur United Disabled Organisation has claimed that the financial assistance and employment allowance 2013 14, marriage incentive and grant in aid for the year 2014 15 given by NGO for the disabled have not been released by the social welfare minister due to the ongoing unrest in the State demanding implementation of inner line permit system Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=29&src=270715

ILP movement deliberated at length

A one day discussion programme on ‘ILPS and Mass Movement in Manipur’ was held today at Manipur Press Club here under the aegis of the United Development Association UDA , Khangabok Source The Sangai Express

A one day discussion programme on ‘ILPS and Mass Movement in Manipur’ was held today at Manipur Press Club here under the aegis of the United Development Association UDA , Khangabok Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=7&src=270715

DSO flays ex MLA Joykishan

RK Binoy, district supply officer Imphal West has charged that the nominee for rice distribution of Thangmeiband Assembly constituency had not distributed rice allocated for the month of June even though the July month is going to be over Source H…

RK Binoy, district supply officer Imphal West has charged that the nominee for rice distribution of Thangmeiband Assembly constituency had not distributed rice allocated for the month of June even though the July month is going to be over Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=25&src=270715

Reopen schools, urges AMCTA

All Manipur College Teachers’ Association AMCTA has urged the Government to open the educational institutes of Imphal area at the earliest Source The Sangai Express

All Manipur College Teachers’ Association AMCTA has urged the Government to open the educational institutes of Imphal area at the earliest Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=6&src=270715

No land ownership for migrants BJP

Manipur State Unit BJP has demanded incorporation of a provision in the proposed legislation to deny land ownership to the migrants from outside in Manipur Source Hueiyen News Service

Manipur State Unit BJP has demanded incorporation of a provision in the proposed legislation to deny land ownership to the migrants from outside in Manipur Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=21&src=270715

Free students JCILPS Student Wing

JCILPS Student Wing has threatened to initiate different forms of intense agitations if the students arrested in connection with the ongoing pro ILPS movement are not released by July 30 Source The Sangai Express

JCILPS Student Wing has threatened to initiate different forms of intense agitations if the students arrested in connection with the ongoing pro ILPS movement are not released by July 30 Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=5&src=270715

Books released

The Writers’ Club, Manipur, Nambol today organised a book release function at the hall of Public Theatre, Phoijing, Nambol with Ng Naba Singh Vashist Acharya Awardee as the chief guest and Saratchandra Nongthombam as the president respectively Sour…

The Writers’ Club, Manipur, Nambol today organised a book release function at the hall of Public Theatre, Phoijing, Nambol with Ng Naba Singh Vashist Acharya Awardee as the chief guest and Saratchandra Nongthombam as the president respectively Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=17&src=270715

Civil bodies continue proILP protest

UPF, NIPCO, CADA, MAPI Council, AMPFA, AMSU, UPACO, Nupi Samaj, AMKIL, Tami Chingmi, Macha Leima, Eechal, NIMPAL, NLANL, ANUL and KKSSNL together staged a massive sit in protest demanding implementation of a proper Inner Line Permit system to safegua…

UPF, NIPCO, CADA, MAPI Council, AMPFA, AMSU, UPACO, Nupi Samaj, AMKIL, Tami Chingmi, Macha Leima, Eechal, NIMPAL, NLANL, ANUL and KKSSNL together staged a massive sit in protest demanding implementation of a proper Inner Line Permit system to safeguard the indigenous people of the State Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=27&src=270715

Myanmar deploys addl brigade along border

Myanmar has deployed an additional brigade comprising around 6,000 men and officers along the border with India, apparently to prevent any more surgical strikes by the Indian army inside its territory Source The Sangai Express Press Trust of India

Myanmar has deployed an additional brigade comprising around 6,000 men and officers along the border with India, apparently to prevent any more surgical strikes by the Indian army inside its territory Source The Sangai Express Press Trust of India

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=3&src=270715

AMUDO

The All Manipur United Disables Organisation AMUDO will stage a sit in protest demanding implementation of ILPS in the State on July 28 at Singjamei Chingamakhong Source The Sangai Express

The All Manipur United Disables Organisation AMUDO will stage a sit in protest demanding implementation of ILPS in the State on July 28 at Singjamei Chingamakhong Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=19&src=270715

MDACTO threatens stir, sets 30 days deadline

Taking strong exception to the alleged failure of the State Government to fulfil their own assurances, people living in the downstream has set a target of 30 days for fulfilling all the assurances Source The Sangai Express

Taking strong exception to the alleged failure of the State Government to fulfil their own assurances, people living in the downstream has set a target of 30 days for fulfilling all the assurances Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=2&src=270715

Diarrhoea Control Fortnight to be launch on July 27

State health department is targeting to reach out to 280,000 children during the intensified diarrhoea control fortnight to be held from July 27 to August 8 in the state Source Hueiyen News Service

State health department is targeting to reach out to 280,000 children during the intensified diarrhoea control fortnight to be held from July 27 to August 8 in the state Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=23&src=270715

MSAD to rally today on ILP

Manipur Students’ Association Delhi MSAD with association of Manipur Young Mind Association Delhi MYMAD and Fight You Are Not Alone will march a mass rally on Monday from Delhi Mandi House to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi Source Hueiyen News Service

Manipur Students’ Association Delhi MSAD with association of Manipur Young Mind Association Delhi MYMAD and Fight You Are Not Alone will march a mass rally on Monday from Delhi Mandi House to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=31&src=270715

No land ownership for migrants: BJP – E-Pao.net

KanglaOnlineNo land ownership for migrants: BJPE-Pao.netThe entry into Manipur by non-residents should be regulated and transfer of land from residents of Manipur to non-resident persons should be done, if necessary, by adapting good practices from oth…


KanglaOnline

No land ownership for migrants: BJP
E-Pao.net
The entry into Manipur by non-residents should be regulated and transfer of land from residents of Manipur to non-resident persons should be done, if necessary, by adapting good practices from other States to suit the local requirements, he stressed.
BJP bats for comprehensive lawThe Sangai Express
What to do if the Governor refer the New Bill on ILP to the President of IndiaKanglaOnline

all 14 news articles »

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Seminar on ILP System and Mass Movement in Manipur held – KanglaOnline

Seminar on ILP System and Mass Movement in Manipur held
KanglaOnline
IMPHAL, July 26: The United Development Association, (UDA), Khangabok organised a one-day seminar on `ILP System and Mass Movement in Manipur`™ today at Manipur Press Club with president of AMBA Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani attending as …
ILP movement deliberated at lengthThe Sangai Express

all 3 news articles »

Seminar on ILP System and Mass Movement in Manipur held
KanglaOnline
IMPHAL, July 26: The United Development Association, (UDA), Khangabok organised a one-day seminar on `ILP System and Mass Movement in Manipur`™ today at Manipur Press Club with president of AMBA Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani attending as …
ILP movement deliberated at lengthThe Sangai Express

all 3 news articles »

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‘We want Manipur’s sovereignty’ – Calcutta Telegraph


Calcutta Telegraph

‘We want Manipur’s sovereignty’
Calcutta Telegraph
In his first ever interview to the media, Khundongbam Pambei (Kh. Pambei), 65, chairman of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF), one of Manipur’s oldest – if not the oldest – militant outfits, answered a series of questions emailed to


Calcutta Telegraph

'We want Manipur's sovereignty'
Calcutta Telegraph
In his first ever interview to the media, Khundongbam Pambei (Kh. Pambei), 65, chairman of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF), one of Manipur's oldest – if not the oldest – militant outfits, answered a series of questions emailed to

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Damned by Sekmai dam

The collapse on July 23, of the Sekmai River Lift Irrigation (RLI) Scheme dam built on the Imphal River under the sponsorship of NEC at the cost of Rs. 4.22

The collapse on July 23, of the Sekmai River Lift Irrigation (RLI) Scheme dam built on the Imphal River under the sponsorship of NEC at the cost of Rs. 4.22 crores, should simply be the limit of public tolerance of corruption. That this disaster should have come when the state is literally in an inferno over an issue that many see as an existential crisis Manipur is faced with, has brought out the nature of rot in the system and the shameless unconcern of the power elite like nothing else could have. There had been complaints from people in the Sekmai area about the atrocious and dangerous compromises in the built quality of the dam but no serious heed was paid until cracks began to be noticed around June and the matter came up for discussions in the Assembly during the tumultuous monsoon session where the chief minister Okram Ibobi had clarified that the completed project had still not been totally handed over to the government, so it was the concerned contractor who should be made answerable. He did say that the matter was being inquired into by the state`™s vigilance department.

This is a very lame excuse at best. By Manipur standards, this is not a small project, therefore it is unlikely the entire project money was released immediately after the project was awarded to the contractor. Instead funds would have been released in steps, after crosschecking the quality as well as progress of the construction work. The fault therefore, cannot under any circumstance be of the contractor or contractors alone. Those who awarded the work; those who were supposed to monitor and clear the project at every stage; as well as the contractors who actually executed the work would all have been party to this organised robbery. This obviously is also not an isolated incident, but part of the state`™s modern culture of corruption whereby an elaborate nexus of contractor-technocrat-bureaucrat-politician siphons off public money into their individual pockets in standardised percentages. The rising number of government employees with accumulated wealth far beyond their known sources of incomes, is evidence of this rot within the system. People only laugh at petty VDF personnel on the streets extorting petty changes from auto rickshaws, but generally are unconcerned about the bigger, more brazen and more organised thefts happening at practically every level of the government. The higher the hierarchy of these nexuses, the bigger also would be the booties at stake. Since the Sekmai dam could not even withstand the onslaught of a single monsoon torrent of a river that can hardly be said to be mighty, it is anybody guess what percentage of the Rs. 4.22 crore would have been spent in the actual construction of the dam.

The question of the threat of demographic marginalisation of the original population of the state is nothing to trifle, but the bigger threat to the survival of any people is a corrupt leadership who place their personal benefits and welfares ahead of public good. Plenty of scholarships available today on histories of societies which survived the worst odds and those which perished when faced with adversities that could have been survived, all point to this. Anthropologist Jared Diamond`™s celebrated 2005 book: `Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed` is just one of these. Manipur at this moment seems to resemble some of the worst case scenarios Diamond sketches. The alarming thing is, nobody reprimands corruption today. Anybody who is rich, even when there is a big question mark on his or her known legitimate sources of income, is envied and respected. The new culture is such that given the opportunity, even those outside the corruption nexus, would willingly be partners in the same crimes that they pretend to revile while not belonging to the nexus. Money, even if it is corruption money, enjoys a social sanctity today. This is the tragedy.

It is rather late in the day, but the government must at least make the effort to absolve itself of the crime of corruption. So far it could at least hide its head in the sand, claiming these are mere allegation from its opponents, but not anymore. The Sekmai dam collapse, and yes the submergence of a newly built school building at Chadong, have made this sordid affair openly visible to anyone. Let there be impartial inquiries into these atrocious affairs and all found guilty awarded exemplary punishments as per law. But the matter must not be allowed to end here. A civil society initiated social reformation movement against corruption is also called for. A general censure, rather than respect, of people who get wealthy by dubious means, can be a good start.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/damned-by-sekmai-dam/

What to do if the Governor refer the New Bill on ILP to the President of India

By Dr.Khomdon Singh Lisam On 9 July, 2015, our Hon`™ble Chief Minister, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh declared that the State Governor has not given his assent to the Manipur Regulation

By Dr.Khomdon Singh Lisam

On 9 July, 2015, our Hon`™ble Chief Minister, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh declared that the State Governor has not given his assent to the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants & Migrant Workers Bill, 2015, which was passed during the 10th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly. According to the Chief Minister, `the Bill was extensively recommended following a detailed discussion for more than five months.` The Bill was also rejected by the people of Manipur, which leads to a series of public agitation under the banner of JCILPS.

The unfortunate part is that the death of Sapam Robinhood Singh (16), S/O S. Romesh Singh of Keisamthong Thangjam Leirak , Imphal. a student from the Anand Singh Higher Secondary School on 8 July, 2015 has added fuel to the fire. The State Government has not ordered even a judicial enquire to do justice to the bereaved family and to calm down the agitation. Probably the JCILPS and JAC may like to take up this issue. It is reported that the Manipur Police has filed an FIR against the deceased Sapam Robinhood instead of treating him as a victim of police atrocity. There are many things which US Marshals Service or GSG 9 of Germany or Scotland Yard Police of UK can learn from Manipur Police. Next year, they may be eligible of the President Medal

The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants & Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 has been reserved for consultation with the President of India

The Chief Minister, after a long silence disclosed that the State Government has submitted the Bill to His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur on 20 March, 2015 for giving Assent. On 23 June, 2015, His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur informed the State Government that the Bill has been reserved for consultation with the President of India under Article 201 of the Indian Constitution. These procedural failures shows lack of transparency and lack of seriousness and lack of leadership on the part of the State Government.

On 15 July, 2015 , the Manipur State Assembly withdraw the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants & Migrant Workers Bill, 2015

On 12 July, 2015, the Congress Legislators Party decided to withdraw the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and migrant Workers Bill, 2015 as passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on 16 March 2015. The decision to withdraw the Bill has come after intense public agitation, open defiance of the curfew for more than five days and mounting public pressure to withdraw the Bill. On 15 July, 2015 , the Manipur State Assembly withdraw the Bill. The Hon`™ble Chief Minister expressed his intension to constitute a committee comprising of members from the Joint Committee On Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) to replace the controversial bill.

The earlier six recommendations of the Political Parties and the comments of the legal experts over a period of five months were rendered useless by the State Government due to poor leadership and lack of seriousness on the part of the State Government.

Who drafted the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 (MRVTMW).

Shri Laisom Ibomcha Singh, Hon`™ble MLA stated in the Manipur Legislative Assembly that three officials are responsible for drafting of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 (MRVTMW). He did not mention the names of the officials. If the statement is true, then the three officials are responsible for creating civil unrest and anarchy in Manipur and they should be given forced retirement for misleading and acting against the interest of the people of Manipur and misguiding the Manipur State Government. How and why did the Manipur State Government gave power and authority to the migrant workers for drafting a Bill to control migrant workers in Manipur. Is it not funny.. Recently our Hon`™ble Chief Minister has given forced leave to the Director of JNIMS for committing a lesser crime. The crimes committed by these three officials as mentioned by shri Ibomcha Singh, Hon`™ble MLA. Is 100 times more severe than what the Director of JNIMS has committed. I hope the Hon`™ble Chief Minister may do something serious to protect the prestige and image of the Manipur State Government. Our spineless, deaf and dumb MLAs are maintaining a deafening silence at this critical juncture. They are not interested in public issues. They are more interested in distributing old age pensions to poor senior citizens under video coverage violating the privacy, human dignity and human rights of the poor helpless senior citizens. Probably the JCILPS may like to take up this issue.

Earlier Assurances of the Government of Manipur

On 22 July, 1980, the All Manipur Students Union(MSU) and All Manipur Students Co-ordinating Committee (AMSCOC) signed an agreement with the Government of Manipur to initiate identification, detection of foreigners from 1st August, 1980 of all outsiders and send them back home. On 9 November, 1994, a second such agreement as signed by the AMSU with the Government of Manipur. There have a series of protests and movement for introduction of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur . The response of the state government is quite encouraging . The matter has been under active consideration of the State Government . But till date nothing significant has been done during 1980-2015. This is the proof of efficiency of the State Government.

Earlier Attempts of Manipur Government

1.On 12 July, 2012, the State Cabinet under the leadership of the Chief Minister has passed a CABINET RESOLUTION to urge the Government of India to extend the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 to the State of Manipur.

2. On 13 July,2012, in consonance with the public demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit system to regulate inflow of outsiders, the Manipur State Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution to put pressure on the Government of India to extend and adopt the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation- 1873 with necessary changes in the point of details to the state of Manipur.

3. On 3rd August, 2012, Dr. J. Suresh Babu, Principal Secretary (Home) in his letter no. 1/1(12) /2011 Home dated 3rd August , 2012 has sent a simple one page request letter to the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to extend the provisions of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 (BEFR) to the state of Manipur. But there is no evidence of enclosing any background material and justification in his letter for demanding implementation of BEFR-1873.

4. On 5th August, 2012 as a reply to the Ministry of Home Affaires Mr. Geoffrey, Joint Secretary `“Home, Government of Manipur mentioned in his letter no. 1/1(12)/2011 `“Home (PMR-19) dated that ` the state did not have ILP system in the past`? Manipur Durbar was having a Pass System from 1901 to 1950. The Government of India has approved retention of the said Permit System in Manipur vide Mr. G.E.D Walker, Advisor to the Governor of Assam letter no. 120/47/C- 26-27 dated 17th January, 1948 and adopted by His Highness, Maharaja of Manipur on 26 February 1948? Every outside migrant from other states was required to take a Pass for entering the geographical boundaries of Manipur. This is one kind of Inner Line Permit System since the permit was required for entering the geographical boundaries of Manipur . Then how and why Mr. Geoffrey mentioned in his letter that ` the state did not have ILP system in the past`? The action of Mr. Geoffrey tantamount to sabotaging the State Government`™s efforts and hijacking the people`™s mass movement is a serous crime which needs exemplary disciplinary action.

What are the essential features of the New Bill

In this connection, all the essential features of the New Bill has been described in my previous article entitled `Agenda of the Upcoming Manipur State Assembly regarding a New Bill on ILP` which has been published in prominent English newspapers (14-07-2015), E-pao, Manipur Times etc.

The essential features includes (1) Title of the Bill (2) Objectives and Reasons of the Bill (3) Appropriate definition of Permanent Resident with cut off date of 18 November 1950 (date on which Himmat Singh abolished the Permit System ) (4) Compulsory Registration of outside Migrant Workers on payment of prescribed fees with exemption clauses. (5) Penalty and Punishment clauses for delayed registration or non-registration (6) protection of ancestral land of indigenous people (7) Provision for deletion of the names of the migrant workers who entered Manipur after 18 November, 1950 and their descendants from the electoral rolls of Manipur (8) Provision on Ban on employment in Government sector of Outsiders, who entered Manipur after 18 November, 1950 and their descendants. (9) Provision on Ban on joining competitive examinations in higher educational, Technical educational and professional courses for children of Outsiders, who entered Manipur after 18 November, 1950 and their descendants.

If these provisions are not included in the New Bill, it will be incomplete and the indigenous people of Manipur will continue to suffer. Luckily, our Hon`™le Chief Minister ha expressed his desire to include all the features to satisfy the will of the people.

Proposal of the President, BJP, Manipur

Not a single political party should try to take credit for having passed a bill with all essential features fulfilling the wishes of the people. The state government should work with complete transparency in collaboration with other political parties.based on mutual trust. Shri Th. Chaoba Singh, President BJP should be given an important role considering the role, the BJP can play in getting the approval of the Central Government and assent of the president. His suggestions (1) for constituting a drafting committee comprising of Legal Experts, political representatives, civil society representatives, experts, academicians, JCILPS representatives etc (2) holding a State Seminar for 4-5 days where legal experts, civil society representatives, prominent citizens, academicians, women representatives, JCILPS are very appropriate and should be carried out without further delay Shri Th. Chaoba Singh, President BJP may be given the president ship of the drafting committee. The Drafting Committee may invite suggestions in writing from the people within a limited time. If he is given president ship of the drafting committee, it becomes his responsibility to translate it into action.

Engaging a recognized constitutional experts in India will ensure validity, authenticity of the draft and enhance acceptability of the Bill by the Government of India.

The State Government may seriously consider engaging a recognized constitutional experts in India like Ram Jethmalani, Harish Salve, Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap, Madhav Khosla etc to guide the drafting committee . The Government of India will respect and take seriously the views of these Constitutional experts. This simple step will enhance authenticity of the draft and the acceptability of the Bill by the Government of India. The report of the Drafting committee should bear the signature and seal of the recognised Constitutional Expert as a Consultant.

Holding a PUBLIC HEARING will ensure mass participation while preparing the draft bill

One of the Civil Societies (UCM, AMUCO) may be given the responsibility of organising a public hearing in collaboration with other prominent civil societies for 2-3 days by making open invitation of about 2000-3000 people at BOAT to solicit the views of the common people and submission of report to the President of the Drafting Committee.

Getting Assent of the Governor of Manipur

After observing the actions of His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur in case of `Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants & Migrant Workers Bill, 2015` , we may anticipate that even if the Manipur State Assembly passed a perfect Bill in fulfillment of the demands of the JCLPS and the wishes of the people incorporating all the essential features, the Governor of Manipur , in all probabilities is likely to refer the Bill to the President of India under Article 201 of the Indian Constitution. My fear is that the President of India may reject the Bill as unconstitutional. We should not forget the comments of and experience with Mr. Sushil Kumar Sinde, the then Union Home Minister, who is reported to have said, `Our Constitution will not allow such things. Any sensible person who believes in the Constitution will not pass such a bill.` Although he is a member of the INC, no Congress leader in Manipur has got the guts and courage to question Mr. Sushil Kumar Sinde. How can Mr. Sinde say that a regulation which is in force in Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram be termed as `unconstitutional`.

Getting Assent of the President of India

His Excellency, the President of India may require to be briefed about the need for implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur to correct the population imbalance and to protect the indigenous people (natives) of Manipur so as to enable him to give the assent. For this, we need to work in unity irrespective political difference in the greater interest of the people.

Just after sending the Bill to the Governor of Manipur , the Presidents and their team of political parties of Bharatiya Janata Party 282 MPs), Indian National Congress( 44 MPs), All India Trinamool Congress (34 MPs) , Communist Party of India (Marxist) (9 MPs) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (6 MPs) should leave Imphal immediately and camped at Delhi to do a lot of advocacy and lobbying with the Central Political Leaders to get the assent of the president.

Mr. Th. Chaoba Singh, President of BJP, Manipur with long years of experience enjoying the confidence of Shri Narendra Modi , Prime Minister of India and his team should stay in Delhi and convince the Union Home Minister, the Prime Minister, BJP President and the President of India till the President of India signs the Assent. He should not try to shrug off his responsibility on some excuses and political difference. He and his team should not come back to Manipur till the President give his assent. Similarly. all the presidents , secretaries of the , Indian National Congress, All India Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) should leave Manipur and camped in Delhi to advocate and lobby with the national party leaders till the assent of the President is obtained . If they failed to achieve this mission, the people may resort to many unwanted events including ban of national political parties in Manipur etc. We do not want to repeat the mistakes of 18 June,2001.

What to do if the President of India reject to give assent to the New Bill

A single team of Manipur under the leadership of Shri O. Ibobi Sngh, Chief Minister of Manipur assisted by Shri Th. Chaoba Singh, President, BJP, presidents , Secretaries of All India Trinamool Congress, NCP and CPI, civil society representatives, constitutional Experts should meet the Union Home Minister, Prime Minister , President of India, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi . All appointments with national leaders should be fixed while they are still in Imphal. Let us shed our ego, pride and arrogance for the sake of people. We may request His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur to work in greater interest of Manipur and meet the national leaders separately. I feel that there is no need for his Excellency to come back to Manipur without fulfilling the wishes of the people.

If the Home Minister , Prime Minister and the President are hell-bent on rejecting the bill, we should exact a promise to support our proposal for amendment of the constitution of India. We may warn them that if they reject all our demands, then there may be burning of Manipur and responsibility should lie with the Government of India.

Demands for Constitutional Amendments

We should have the courage to tell the central leaders that the Government of India has already committed a series of blunders to the people in Manipur during 1949-2001. Referring to the statement of G.K. Pillai, the then Union Home Secretary, which was published on 27 September, 2011 in the Telegraph newspaper, we can say that ` the ancient kingdom of Manipur had a constitution even before India wrote her own and democracy was introduced in Manipur well before India became a democratic country. But Manipur was reduced to a C-category state under the Indian Constitution in 1948. Nagaland was granted Statehood from a village republic in 1963 while Manipur with a proud history of more than 2000 years was granted statehood only in 1972. This blunder of the Government of India has resulted in creating insurgency problem in Manipur. The existing Article 371C of the Indian Constitution is found to be extremely discriminatory and the source of all communal conflicts in Manipur which needs to be amended.
The people of Manipur feel that that the Indian Constitution was imposed on Manipur without ratification. Manipur did not participate in the Indian Constitutional debate held during 9th december,1946 to 24th January ,1950. It was never ratified by the then Manipur State Assembly. Manipur has never asked the Government of India for constitutional amendment during the last 65 years. The Government of India is offering constitutional amendment just o satisfy Muivah, the General Secretary of NSCN-IM whereas we do not have the courage to ask for constitutional amendments.. We strongly feel that only after constitutional amendment, Manipur will be able to bring about communal harmony, unity, equality and solidarity among all ethnic groups of Manipur and achieve peace and development in Manipur. We can further mention that we, the people of Manipur request the Home Minister , Prime Minister, the President of India to find a permanent cure to these past blunders in Manipur and consider amendment of the Indian Constitution. We can not ask for constitutional amendment off and on. Some civil societies are working on ` Territorial Integrity:, some others are working on ` Schedule Tribe Demand ` while JCILPS is working on ` Inner Line Permt System`. All these demands require constitutional amendments. Surprisingly, they never ask for constitutional amendments. Further there are many core issues of Manipur which need constitutional amendments. Considering all these points, our demands for constitutional amendments may include the following :-

Main features of Constitutional Amendments

1. The Article 3 of Indian Constitution regarding alteration of state boundaries shall not apply in respect of Manipur to protect the 2000 year old territorial integrity of Manipur. The last experience of Telengana State formation with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi bypassing the state assembly was a very bad example.

2. The Union List and Concurrent list under the Indian Constitution pertaining to Manipur shall be taken up by the Government of India only with the concurrence of the State Legislative Assembly

3. Since 90% of Manipur is hill area, Manipur may be declared as a Hill State

4. All the ethnic groups in Manipur may be brought under an uniform land laws

5. Any person from other states of India will be allowed to purchase lands only with the approval of the State Government to protect the indigenous people of Manipur.

6. Any person from other states of India shall need an `Inner Line Permit` to enter Manipur on payment of nominal fees to protect the identity, culture, traditions, language, script of the Manipuris . Manipur welcomes all people from other states to visit Manipur . This will have retrospective effect since 18 November, 1950.

7. The Constitution should provide establishment of an upper house (Legislative Council) with a minimum of 40 members with 10 seats reserved for nomination.

8. The Number of Rajya Sabha MPs should be increased to seven (7) on the basis of equal representation of states as done in USA and other countries. Large and small states should be treated at par in the Rajya Sabha or Council of States.

9. The followers of Pakhangba `“Sanamahi religion may be included under ` Scheduled Tribe category` of the Indian Constitution to restore equality among the ethnic groups.

10. The Manipuri script ( Meitei Mayek) should be included in the coins and currency bank notes

If the Home Minister, Prime Minister, the President of India fails to assure the constitutional amendment within a time frame even up to the last moment, the JCILPS in collaboration with other civil societies may launch a more serious, more severe, more intensive mass movement with the people of Manipur including non-cooperation , civil disobedience to achieve our goal. Our Political Leaders may take this single agenda issue with the Central Leaders. Our Chief Ministers with his MLAs and thousands of volunteers may launch a Dharna at the Jantar Mantar till the demand is given.

(The writer can be reached at- Khomdon.lisam@yahoo.com)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/what-to-do-if-the-governor-refer-the-new-bill-on-ilp-to-the-president-of-india/

Why not asking Prime Minister Modi to give 100 to Nagas not 80!

Two days of discussion on the Naga political issue with almost all the legislators taking part on the Floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly has shown very clearly that not

Two days of discussion on the Naga political issue with almost all the legislators taking part on the Floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly has shown very clearly that not a single legislators of the present 12th NLA is aware of the `Charter of Demands` on which the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) leaders have been negotiating for more than a decade. It can now safely be concluded that the House is kept in the dark of the political negotiations. They, however, agreed that the talks between the two parties have been quite long and for which they should urge them to expedite the process for an early settlement to the Naga political issue.

We all know that the talks have been going on only between the `Government of India and the NSCN (IM),` to be very precise, and most of the legislators or for that matter many political pundits as well as media persons have been referring to that. The Government of India`™s mind is very clear that once the final stage to ink for settlement to the Naga issue is arrived at, they will perhaps start letting Naga legislators know that the solution will be `Inclusive` and other components therein. We have heard what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Interlocutor RN Ravi have recently told the 19-Member Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) of Nagaland with regard to the settlement of the Naga political issue. And most of the Members who were part of the 19-Member PWC Team at Delhi enlightened the House of what they heard from the mouths of the Prime Minister and Interlocutor during the two-day discussion on the Naga political issue.

Today, the Central leaders and many Naga leaders have questioned the NSCN (K) on their `unilateral abrogation` of the `Ceasefire` with the Government of India. But none of them has carefully studied as to why the outfit had taken this highly dangerous step knowing fully that such move would only lead to unwanted development.

If we think 18 years of Center-NSCN (IM) ceasefire is very long, then NSCN (K)`™s 14 years of ceasefire with the Government of India cannot be a short one. If one dissects the nature of these two ceasefires, it will be only exposing the confusing or rather insensitive nature on the part of the Government of India. We don`™t know whether Delhi knows the ground realities prevailing here in Nagaland or the issues critically involving neighboring States particularly Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and even Myanmar. General Secretary of the NSCN (IM), Thuingaleng Muivah, is from the present State of Manipur, while the Chairman of the NSCN (K) SS Khaplang is from Myanmar.

Everyone knows that the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) have been deadly rivals since they split into two from their undivided NSCN in 1988 and hundreds of cadres belonging to both of them lost their precious lives only because of the clashes between them. Such factional deadly clashes even continued even after NSCN (K) entered into ceasefire with the Government of India in 2001. But due to the interventions of various civil societies particularly the FNR, the specter of factionalism has come down drastically and the chasm among the factions reduced.

The fact is the NSCN (K) during their long 14-year ceasefire with the Government of India had only suffered beyond repair. They had even suffered split while maintaining ceasefire with the Government of India. Interestingly, and for whatever reason, we don`™t know, the Government of India wasn`™t prepared to hold political talks, not even once, with the leadership of the NSCN (K) in their long 14-year ceasefire, but continues to hold political talks in full swing with NSCN (IM) leaderships since their ceasefire in 1997. This development had made the leaders of NSCN (K) a mockery, besides humiliating them. Had Delhi taken some minimum initiative to even start informal `Political talks` with the leadership of the NSCN (K), things would not have happened as we have seen today. Then, suddenly, everyone including some leaders from Nagaland started questioning why the NSCN (K) should enter into ceasefire with Myanmar government while maintaining with India.

From all the angles and after carefully listening to the two-day discussions on the Naga political issue on the Floor of the Nagaland Assembly on July 23 and 24, it is very clear that the Prime Minister or the Interlocutor to Center-Naga political talks had actually disclosed their minds towards the settlement of the Naga political issue.

When the Prime Minister told the 19-Member PWC from Nagaland that `If I give you 80% of your demand, it doesn`™t mean I am not giving you remaining 20%,` everyone was perhaps caught napping.

The fact is the State Government of Nagaland still decides to remain as `facilitator` – meaning not a real player in the process. This also indicates that the 60 legislators are not a party to the `Talks` between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM). Why 60 legislators because the present Government in Nagaland is all-party Government or Opposition-less Government. Then the question comes that if they are not a party to the `Talks,` then will they have rights to interfere into the process or even asking parties in `Talks` to make their `Charter of Demands` public. The danger is what will they say when the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) take a final decision to resolve the issue. In this case, the State of Nagaland will be only a mere audience to the show.

Knowing this hindrance, Interlocutor Ravi was reported to have told the 19-Member PWC from Nagaland that they should `take up their role higher than the facilitator.` He also said, `What is possible; tell us, we will work together.`

Yet, once the final decision on the settlement on the Naga issue is taken, the Parliament will start discussing on it before approving it and what will the State of Nagaland do at this point of time? The Parliament will revisit the Article 371A for sure for discussion and probably, this process in the Parliament will open up even the 16-Point Agreement as to how it was entered into.

Will the Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly accept if the Parliament attempts to undo the Article 371A, which was inserted to the Constitution of India after the Parliament enacted the State of Nagaland Act, 1962, in their endeavor to settle the Naga issue? The Parliament will definitely examine Article 371A and may move for Amendment of Article 371A or some Clauses may be added in the Article 371A or dilute some of them. They may try to give certain economic packages to various Naga areas but not before diluting the existing Article 371A. The fear is some of the Clauses in the Article 371A which give unique power to the people of Nagaland may be diluted and that will be a great handicap to the Naga people particularly the Nagas of Nagaland.

Interestingly, the Nagaland State has survived 52 years, while Delhi continues to engage in talks with leaders of Naga political groups to find settlement to the Naga issue. The Naga sovereignty has been fundamental to the Naga political movement and the Article 371A was for making Nagaland as a full-fledged Statehood.

So, if one clearly examines the two things, the Article 371A has, precisely, got nothing to do with the Naga political issue, as the Center has been persistently engaged in ceasefires with various Naga political groups and holding talks with them to find solution to the Naga issue. Surprisingly, the Naga underground groups generally observe the `Naga Independence Day Celebrations` every year on August 14 and strangely, all these activities happened without much obstruction from the Government side.

These complexities and dangers are noticed by Delhi as they had seen why the Naga issue still remains unresolved even after 16-Point Agreement of 1960 or why the Shillong Accord of 1975 invited more bloodshed among the Nagas. That is why Ravi has wisely informed the 19-Members PWC of Nagaland at Delhi that the State government should play more than a `facilitator,` indicating that they should be part of the process because any settlement which is to be arrived at will be for all of them. Otherwise, his fear is that another piecemeal solution will again come and that he does not favor as it will only be a vicious circle. So he has told the Members of the PWC at Delhi that any solution `should be comprehensive and not a piecemeal solution` and the process should be with `inclusive approach keeping in mind the basic Naga ethos, Naga cultures and Naga traditional systems.`

Some Members, while taking part in the discussion on the Naga issue, have also pointed out on why they should not have another 16-Point Agreement. They have pointed out that though it was good enough for them, the Nagas have not agreed to because 16-Point Agreement was signed without consulting with the Naga national group. That is why the Naga issue still defies solution and the Agreement fails to solve the problem till date.

Another Member said the Agreements, Truces, done in the past were the best ones happened at that point of time, though the solution to Naga issue still remained elusive. He was saying that the present Naga leaders should have more refined approach with the experiences they had from the past political events towards finding solution to the issue.

Bottom Line:

But I honestly feel why the solution to the 68-year old Naga political issue (some says 86 years old counting from the day Naga leaders submitted a Memorandum to the Simon Commission) still remains elusive is because their approach to solution was not with 100% attempts. Can we explain to the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi that attempting with 80% for finding solution to issue which is as old as Indian`™s Independence will only be a piecemeal solution as Interlocutor Ravi has already explained as proven from the past experiences?

Somebody in Nagaland keeps saying PM Modi has guts to solve the Naga issue. I personally feel that `guts` will not solve Naga issue. What is lacking in the leadership of the country is their `love, care, and concern for the people in the region and also wisdom and diplomacy.`

Dear Prime Minister Modi, please learn lessons from your British counterpart David Cameron and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown whose genuine love, care and concern shown to Scots while speaking to them (Scots) on the eve of the historic `Scottish Independence Referendum, 2014` saved the `United Kingdom` from fragmentation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/why-not-asking-prime-minister-modi-to-give-100-to-nagas-not-80/