Imphal, Dec 2: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has submitted an ultimatum to the the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and the Chief Secretary of the State threatening to launch various agitations from December 16 if the State Government fails to put into action what was agreed upon after both sides inked an agreement on August 25 this year to bring a lasting solution to the ever growing issue of influx and bring peace and tranquillity in the State.
December 15 is the deadline set for the Government to translate the agreement into action.
Addressing media persons in a press briefing today at the office of JCILPS, Imphal, co-convenor Khomdram Ratan said that the State Government agreed to constitute a Manipur State Population Commission to assess the problems and issues of demographic imbalance and other related matters so as to take up measures towards social harmony and peaceful development. The agreement included production of a white paper on population influx within one year.
Even though the agreement was signed 100 days back, the State Government has failed to take up any positive steps. In different parts of the country such commissions are there, yet the State Government is not ready to constitute the Commission and this is not acceptable, he added.
The State Government also agreed to constitute a Manipur State Land Reform Commission to undertake a review of the situation arising out of complexities related to land, resources and population dynamics.
Yet no action has been initiated till today, he added. Further he said that the existing Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 is very-much outdated and does not serve the general purpose of the different ethnic communities of the State. It only widens the gap between different communities.
He stated that the Manipur State Land Reform Commission must be formed at the earliest and a separate land law of the State must be enacted.
Ratan said, "the Manipur State Government agreed to implement what was signed between AMSU and AMSCOC with the then Government on July 22, 1980 and August 5, 1980 which were also reaffirmed by the Government on November 9, 1994 on the issue of Foreigners Act of 1946". He alleged that the State Government has failed to take up what was agreed upon and added that 100 days have passed.
Further he said that the indifferent approach of the State Government has led the 'Three Bills' to rot in the hands of the President of India. "If the State Government really wanted to save the indigenous people of the State, they should pressure the Central Government," Ratan added. He maintained that the statement made by the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the 'Three bills' that the consent of various CSOs, village leaders and the State Government will be taken into account before the final statement of the bill will be made is disastrous.
The statement of the Ministry indicates that there is some hidden agenda behind the false accusation against the Bills and wrongly leading some section of the community. He urged the people not to fall in their trap of divide and rule tactics as it will only dilute the indigenous population further and root out the native people.
In the month long protest for implementation of Inner Line Permit or a similar law, a number of people were injured because of the inability of the State Government to act in time, Ratan added. The agreement of August 25 also included that all persons who were injured will be given financial assistance by the State Government. But unfortunately none of the injured has received any assistance from the authorities concerned. He urged the State Government to take up necessary steps at the earliest.
Meanwhile, BK Moirangcha also a co-convener of JCILPS said all records of census, NRC and village directory must be with the authorities concerned as it was conducted under the Government of India.
