IMPHAL, May 6 : The JCILPS has announced that it is well prepared for a sustained mass movement.
Speaking to media persons today, JCILPS convenor Khomdram Ratan remarked that the ongoing public curfew has received massive support.
The public curfew was called on the demands to convert the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31 last year into Acts, translation of the agreement signed between the Government and JCILPS into action and prohibition of non-local people from casting votes and contesting elections in the State.
Claiming that all the people share the growing concern for enactment of a Constitutional safeguard for protection of indigenous people of the land, Ratan appealed to all the people not to hinder movement of media persons during the public curfew.
He further informed that essential services like water supply, electricity, and religious functions etc are exempted from the purview of the public curfew.
Ratan appealed to the people to assemble together on roads and streets of their localities and shout slogans in unison in support of the popular demand between 5 pm and 6 pm tomorrow.
People may shout slogans like “Convert the three Bills into Acts”, “Enforce ILPS in Manipur”, “Implement the agreement signed between State Government and JCILPS”, “Non-local people cannot cast votes or contest elections in Manipur” etc, he continued.
Meanwhile JCILPS Women Wing has planned a number of protest demonstrations from May 8.
Ratan then appealed to all the people to take out torch rallies in their localities in the evening of May 8 and shout the common slogans in one voice.
He decried BJP Manipur Pradesh president’s statement that he would not like to comment on the issue as he has just assumed office of the party chief.
BJP made their contributions in the collective efforts to get the three Bills passed. Now they ought to go to New Delhi and lobby with the Central leaders so that the Bills are given assent by the President.
BJP has immense roles to play for they are in power at the Centre. But the new State BJP chief seem like he is shirking away from his party’s responsibility, said Ratan.
Likewise, all political parties active in Manipur ought to make all possible contributions so that the people’s popular demand is fulfilled otherwise they may face a situation where the people would teach them befitting lessons, Ratan said.
BJP should make their position on the ILPS issue clear by May 8.
He then asked the Deputy Chief Minister and the former Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president if he ever invited representatives of different political parties to go to Delhi together and lobby for the Bills.
Ratan asserted that all political parties need to work together on the issue.
People appreciate CPI and MPP for declaring their unambiguous positions on the ILPS issue. The resolutions adopted at the people’s conventions organised by JCILPS are people’s resolutions, and the JCILPS will strive to translate the resolutions into action, Ratan pledged.
