While Biren often spoke on public platforms that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah extended the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, to Manipur, he has not done his part in making the provisions to truly safeguard the indigenous people, said JCILPS convenor BK Moirangcha
TFM Report
The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) on Saturday reminded chief minister N Biren Singh to make the necessary guidelines and provisions to make the existing Inner Line Permit System an effective one in order to safeguard the indigenous people of the state, before the announcement of code of conduct for the 2022 state election.
While CM Biren often spoke on public platforms that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah extended the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, to Manipur, CM Biren has not done his part in making the provisions to truly safeguard the indigenous people, JCILPS convenor BK Moirangcha said while addressing media persons at the committee’s office in Imphal.
Stating that the existing ILPS in the state is a “hollow” one, BK Moirangcha maintained that it does not have important provisions to safeguard the indigenous people of the state.
He also said that CM Biren had given his assurance that such provisions will be chalked out in consultation with JCILPS and the people of the state. But even after two years, it has not been done, he lamented.
The JCILPS convenor informed that a drive was conducted from November 18 with the help of the Manipur Police in and around Khwairamband Keithel, and more than 250 outsiders, mainly labourers, were found without any permit, or with invalid or expired permit.
Although they were handed over to the police, they were not penalised as per the existing sections, he said, adding they were let off by issuing some forms for renewal or application for the permit.
“When enquired, the labourers informed that they came through Mao and Jiribam routes,” BK Moirangcha said and urged the officials at Mao and Jiribam entry points to perform their duty diligently. The state government should take up steps to impose the existing sections of the permit system, he asserted.
On the other hand, BK Moirangcha said that a monthly journal called Marup of Tripura has carried some distorted articles about JCILPS.
He clarified that JCILPS never demanded that the state government to drive-out those who came to the state after 1951.
The committee had demanded that those who came after 1951 should be scrapped from the voter list. The demand was made as there is a threat to the political rights of the indigenous people due to the massive influx, he added.
Stating that JCILPS is not “anti-India”, he said that all businesses and labourers are welcomed in the state, but as per the law of the land.