IMPHAL, Jun 28: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has said that the Government will consult the leaders of both hill and valley to avoid loopholes while drafting a new Bill for the protection of indigenous people of the State.
He said that the new Bill must be a practical oriented and it must not be based on sentiment and emotion.
The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking as chief guest at the opening function of the three-phase rehabilitation of Kabui Khullen village organised by Believers Church, Langol today.
Kabui Khullen was the epicentre of the devastating earthquake which rocked the State on January 4 this year.
In his speech, Gaikhangam said that as the Centre had withheld the Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015, the term anti or pro Bill is no more relevant.
Although rejection of the Bill is a setback towards the movement for protection of indigenous people, it must be taken as a chance to pass a new Bill, which is acceptable to all the communities, after having a wider consultation, he observed.
It is also a chance to resolve the misunderstanding between the hill and valley people, Gaikhangam said.
The Deputy Chief Minister appealed to the Churachandpur JAC and people of hill districts to hold back their ire as the President had withheld the controversial Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015.
He said that the State Government is now perplexed by the anger of the hill people although the Bill has been withheld.
He said that the Government is confused why the anti-Bill group is still venting ire although the pro-Bill group had held back their setback after the rejection of the controversial Bill.
Saying that Acts and laws are enacted for the welfare of the people, Gaikhangam said that there is no point for the enactment of a law which would create mayhem.
He also appealed to the public to co-operate in drafting a new Bill which is acceptable to both hill and valley people.
Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the all political parties committee had resolved to entrust the Constitutional and legal experts to develop a new Bill, he said.
He further said that it had already been also resolved to consult Hill Area Committee, intellectuals and leaders of both hill and valley areas to avoid any loophole.
Regarding Nungei incident, Gaikhangam said that curfew had been clamped and additional security forces deployed to contain the situation.
Regarding implementation of National Food Security Act, the Deputy Chief Minister said that nobody can interfere in the distribution of food grains.
However, there are some omissions and early hiccups as it is a new Act, he clarified.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that the Government would take up necessary steps to complete the process of police Constable recruitment of 2013.
Regarding wanted tag on Kh Ratan, Gaikhangam said that the law would take its own course.
With regard to recovery of skulls and skeletons from Tombisana High School campus, he said that the State Government had taken up all necessary steps including handing over the case to CBI.
Inpui Naga Union and All Inpui Students’ Union thanked Believers Church and Global Shapers, Imphal Hub for its efforts towards rehabilitation of the villagers of Kabui Khullen, which was devastated by the earthquake that rocked the State on January 4 this year.
