IMPHAL, Jun 15: After the Protection of Manipur Peoples’ (PMP) Bill 2015 has been withheld by the President of India, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has demanded the State Government to table and pass a new Bill during the July session of the Manipur Legis-lative Assembly.
Speaking to media persons at their Sega Road, Konjeng Hazari Leikai office this afternoon, JCILPS convenor- in-charge BK Moirangcha said that they are compelled to demand a new Bill after considering the dynamics of the ongoing mass movement and the recent developments.
As for the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (7th Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (2nd Amendment) Bill 2015 which the Government of India has been withholding for consideration with experts, BJP Manipur Pradesh should take central roles so that the two Bills are converted into Acts.
Except for a single press release, the all party delegation led by Chief Minister O Ibobi did not share detail accounts with the public regar- ding their meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. This is unacceptable to JCILPS, BK decried.
Pointing out that ILPS is currently in force in some Northeastern States, he remarked that the President of India withholding assent to a money Bill is akin to rejecting the Bill.
It is a matter of serious concern that the State Government has not made any initiative so far to draft a new Bill in consultation with different political parties, experts and all stake holders.
The State Government should table a new Bill in place of the PMP Bill 2015 and ensure that the same Bill is passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly during the July session.
BJP Manipur Pradesh cannot shirk away their respon- sibility. They should take pro-active roles so that the two Bills being kept withheld by New Delhi for consultation with experts are given assent by the President of India. For their accomplishment, they may take full credit, BK continued.
If the JCILPS’ new demands are not responded positively, different modes of intense agitation would be launched and for any untoward incident resulting thereof, the Government should be held accountable.
A news report published by a Nagaland based newspaper on June 8 said that all the three Bills had been rejected and all the relevant documents had been concealed by the all party delegation.
The news report was contradictory to the press release issued by the all party delegation. As such, the all party delegation should come out with a clarification at the earliest.
However, the ongoing agitation such as sit-in-protest, public demonstration on roads would continue. But restrictions imposed on entertainment programmes has been lifted, BK Moirangcha said.
Sit-in-protest and shouting slogans in unison would staged along Imphal-Moreh highway from Waithou to Khangabok on June 16.
Similar protest demonstrations would be staged from Wangbal to Pallel on June 17, Kakching to Sugnu on June 19, Samurou to Sekmaijin on June 20, Oinam to Phubala on June 21 and Phubala-Moirang, Kumbi-Ithai-Karang-Wangoo-Sagang road on June 22.
Many slogans such as “Implement ILPS”, “Pass a new Bill in place of PMP Bill”, “Translate all the points agreed between JCILPS and the State Government into action”, “Revoke declaration of Khomdram Ratan as a wanted man” etc would be shouted in unison in the course of these protest demonstrations.
Saying that a large section has been compelled to launch counter economic blockades as the State Government did nothing to neutralise to economic blockade, BK Moirangcha maintained that the Government should be held responsible for any untoward which may break out in the course of the economic blockade and the counter economic blockade.
Saying that they have received reports about some people collecting money from public in the name of helping those protesters who suffered injuries in the course of the ongoing popular movement, BK appealed to all concerned to stop these activities.
