Renewed ILP bill campaign launched

Biren promises to enact acceptable law

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 4

Coming out of its hiatus, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permitt System JCILPS launched its fresh agitation today by taking out a peace rally in Imphal city area demanding a bill to regulate entry by outsiders.

On the other hand chief minister N. Biren Singh today said his government would soon start working on a bill that can safeguard the indigenous people of the state.

“As we are busy with 100 days programme of the government, Budget session and frequent floods in the state the government found little time to look into the bill issue. We will consult all stakeholders and experts so that a bill acceptable to all can be drafted and introduced in the Assembly,” Biren told reporters.

The rally started from the office of JCILPS located at Sega road Konjeng Hajari Leikai with around 120 volunteers. The rally headed to Wahengbam Leikai junction, Khoyathong point, Minuthong bridge, Hatta road, Wangkhei road, Advanced Hospital road and after passing through old Thumbuthong bridge, it passes Keishamthong bridge and culminated at JCILPS office.

Speaking to media persons, convenor of JCILPS, Arjun Telheiba said number of non-locals is becoming equivalent with the population of indigenous people of the state. Markets are becoming captive market by non-locals especially in the city area. Due to the increasing number of non-local population they are becoming majority in some places of the state. As impact of this, it affects the state economically and socially, he added.

He said due to increases population of non-locals, they got the courage to become candidates in elections. Due to their position of majority level they have elected one in the Assembly elections.

To protect the rights of indigenous people government must pass the ILP law at the earliest.

Answering questions, Telheiba said bandh, blockade, strike will not be resorted to as a part of agitation for the implementation of ILP. Agitation from now will not harm any student and public. Agitations like poster campaign, public meeting will be organised at different parts of the state to strengthen the movement of ILP issue, Telheiba asserted.

But, ILP being a public issue which touches the sentiments of public the agitation might become volatile. The bill should be passed during the winter session, he added. 

He further said to strengthen the movement mass public meeting will be organised within this month for all the ethnic groups of the state. The bill on land law does not affect the hill people who are settling in the state since 1951 as base year. The bill is to stop buying and selling of land by non-locals, Telheiba added.

As a movement of inner line permit a public meeting will be organised on September 20 as first step, it will include all the ethnic groups with other civil society organisation, Telheiba claimed.