IMPHAL, August 13: In protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards introduction of Inner Line Permit System or similar law in the State State so as to regulate the alarming influx of outsiders, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which is spearheading the ongoing mass agitation has imposed a 12-hour State-wide public curfew with effect from 4 am of August 14.
Announcing the curfew in a press release, the JCILPS said media personnel, medical service, religious procession, water supply and electricity are not covered by the public curfew.
The committee appealed to the people to stage mass sit-in-protests in every locality on August 15 from 10 am to 3 pm, form human chains from 3 pm to 4 pm and take out troch rallies from 7 pm as mark of protest against the utter failure of the government to pass an acceptable bill to safeguard the indigenous people.
The government has also taken lightly the five-point demands adopted during a public convention which were demanded to be included in the proposed draft bill, it said.
By doing so, it has been proved that the government is not able to understand the pulse of the people, the release stated.
Reiterating that JCILPS had two rounds of talk with the government on the proposed bill at the Chief Minister`™s Secretariat Hall but failed to bring any mutual consent, it said that representatives of the committee were left in disappointment when the government produced an incomplete bill.
Moreover, the government during the talks failed to assure that the five points adopted during the public convention held on July 23 will be included in the proposed draft bill which was supposed to be passed within August 15. Due to this, representatives of the committee walked out of the talks before its completion, the release contended.
As the government is in no mood to work according to the wishes of the people, there is no point in taking part in Independence Day celebration on August 15, it said.
The JCILPS in the release appealed to the people to collectively boycott the Independence Day celebration.