IMPHAL, July 7: Annoyed at the failure of the government to withdraw the controversial Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 and replace it by another strong bill during the ongoing 11th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has announced to boycott the Assembly session from July 8.
Declaring the call during a press conference at the office of MSF here today, convener of JCILPS Khomdrom Ratan said that the committee and several other civil society organizations have been demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in order to monitor the incessant entry of outsiders into the State, which has posed a serious threat to the existence of the indigenous people but no step has been taken up by the government to do so.
All the MLAs have failed to raise the issue during the Assembly session even after series of agitation launched by many sections of people including students. The ILPS could be implemented in the State as well to check the rampant influx of outsiders into the land if the MLAs show enough political will in this regard. The committee was compelled to boycott the ongoing Assembly session as the government prefers to remain silent for long on the issue, he fumed.
Stating that implementation of ILPS in the State has become much necessary not only for the people but also for the government too as there has been unchecked influx of non-locals into the State without proper identifications, he appealed to women folk to take out state-wide torch rally on July 8 as a mark of safeguard of the indigenous people.
The convener of JCILP also strongly condemned the harsh behaviour of SI Thoubal District Police Naobi and Hawaldar Dhanajit for abusing women folk while taking in the 19-hour general strike called by the committee from June 6 midnight.
The police power were supposed to protect the people but the State police misuse the power given to them and such abusive languages should not be repeated again considering the fact that the women folk are demanding for the welfare of the State and its people including the State police and the government and not only for few individuals or communities, he said.
He expressed gratitude to all who extended support to the 19-hour general strike imposed by the committee in pursuance of the demand for ILPS implementation in the State at the earliest.
Co-conveners of JCILPS Md Khairudin Saha; BK Moirangcha; Somendro Thokchom and Arjun Telheiba were also present at the press conference.