IMPHAL, August 13: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today maintained that bringing out the ILPS bill before August 15 which is the deadline set by the JCILPS doesn`™t seem feasible at the moment but the government is trying its level best to bring it out at the earliest.
The CM was replying to media queries on the sideline of the 124th Patriots Day observation organised by the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee at the Congress Bhawan today.
He said the government commissioned Drafting Committee has already submitted its draft bill and the government is trying to finalise it at the moment. It may take some more time, he asserted.
However, the government has already handed a copy of the preliminary draft of the bill to the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System during yesterday`™s meeting so that the committee may study it, he continued.
The government at the same time is also scrutinizing the five-point demand of the JCILPS and trying to fit it into the bill, the Chief Minister informed media persons.
The demand of the JCILPS is not in the format to be fitted into the bill, and needs restructuring by an expert committee for it to fit into a bill, he added.
He said technically bringing out the bill before August 15 seems quite impossible at the moment, but the government is putting all-out efforts to bring it out at the earliest.
He said it is under the disposal of the Governor as to whether he would like to examine the bill after it is passed in the House or examine it before it is tabled in the House.
The CM also said on its part, the government is not leaving any room for mistakes in the bill.
After August 17, the government would like to have regular meetings with the JCILPS so that the bill comes out at the earliest, the Chief Minister said.
Frequent sharing of dialogues would certain aid in bringing an amicable solution, he observed.
The public demand for withdrawal of the previous bill, setting up of an inquiry into the alleged police highhandedness during the recent movement, unconditional release of the arrested students have all been met by the government and hopefully with frequent meetings with the JCILPS, the government may be able to find ways to implement an Act at the earliest, he said.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also maintained once again that his government is still waiting for details of the Peace Accord signed recently between the GOI and the NSCN (IM) from the Centre.
Soon after the signing of the accord, he had demanded from the Central government the full text of the accord at which the Home Minister had assured to provide one, once it is tabled in the Parliament, the CM said.
He continued that he had met the government interlocutor, RN Ravi for more than 45 minutes during which, the interlocutor had said that the accord was just a framework and as and when it is to be finalised the governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur will be invited for discussion.
The same response was also repeated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting which lasted for more than half an hour, Ibobi asserted.
Yet, till date the Government of Manipur has not received any response from either side, he lamented.