IMPHAL, August 3: Apparent inaction on part of the government led by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to introduce Inner Line Permit System or any similar law to monitor the alarming influx of outsiders into the state has provoked anger of the people leading to the ongoing mass agitation, stated convener of Manipur Watch Initiative Heikrujam Nabashyam.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here today, Nabashyam said that the government has been ill-treating the students by closing down educational institutions for a long time, which is against the Right to Education.
He expressed grave concern on the rapid increase in the population of migrants in the State, which has reached 25.80 percent out of the total 27 lakhs population.
As such, implementation of ILPS or similar law in the State is much necessary to safeguard the indigenous people from the incessant entry of migrants, he observed.
He said that there is a need to clearly apprise the NDA Government at the centre about the ongoing mass movement spearheaded by JCILPS for enactment of a new bill to serve the purpose.
Constitution which is made for people can be changed from time to time but indigenous people cannot be changed. The ongoing collective demand for enactment of a new bill should be fulfilled as it has been made only to safeguard indigenous people, the convener pointed out.
He maintained that Manipur Watch Initiative had submitted a memorandum each to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor and CM of the State urging immediate attention to the collective demand for enactment of a new bill to protect the indigenous people.
The memorandum stated that the State at present is on the boil on the issue of an imminent threat to its own indigenous population. The people have been demanding the state government to find ways and means to check the influx of migrants from the big states of India into Manipur, so that its small indigenous population of 20 lakhs may not be reduced to a minority like case of Sikkim and Tripura etc.
The people have been continuously demanding Inner Line System (ILPS) as a means to protect themselves. Since last July 8, life in Manipur has been topsy-turvy. The government closed all the schools and colleges in Imphal and greater Imphal areas. The protest marches and the street fights between the police and protestors protesting against the government`™s ridiculous and absurd behaviour with the issue has enraged the public and crippled day to day life. This has thrown our life into disarray, it said.
“™In a period of about six decades after the merger agreement, the migrant population in the State have astonishingly multiplied and constituted a quarter of the total population. And the influx is continuing unchecked. The problem could become more acute with the commission of the railways up to Imphal targeted in the year 2017. If this trend of influx goes unchecked, it would destroy the very socio political fabric of Manipur. No state in India or no country in the world would allow such a condition to prevail. This calls for an immediate attention of the state government and the centre as well.`™`™ the memorandum said.
Surprisingly, what is intriguing is the fact the national media both print and electronic, without any exception have purposefully blackout this burning issue engulfing Manipur for the last 4 weeks. This is unhealthy in democracy. National media may correct themselves, it pointed out.