Newmai News Network
Imphal | June 26
The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) on Sunday reiterated its opposition to the Manipur government’s approval to set 1961 as the base year for determining the “native” status for the effective implementation of the Inner Line Permit system (ILPS) in the state.
The JCILPS has demanded that 1951 be applied as the base year, according to the committee's convenor Konsam Phulindro. A cabinet meeting held on June 22 under the chairmanship of chief minister N Biren Singh had approved1961 as the base year for ILPS in the state.
Addressing reporters at Awa Ching in Imphal East district today, the JCILPS convener said that the committee has been pressing the state government to adopt 1951 as the base year for the implementation of the ILPS. "The state government had also, on many occasions, agreed to the demand. Besides, the Manipur Legislative Assembly had also passed the resolution to adopt 1951 as the cut off year", he claimed.
Phulindro then said that the JCILPS will host a people’s convention to discuss the recent decision of the state government. The JCILPS will propose to fix 1951 as the cut off year and seek reaffirmation of the decision, he further said. According to Phulindro, the convention will be convened before July 8, the day on which JCILPS will observe the 7th death anniversary of Sapam Robinhood, a student who died during a people's movement demanding implementation of ILPS in the state on July 8. The resolution to be adopted by the convention will be submitted to the state government for consideration, he added.
Phulindro then said that the future course of action will depend on the response of the state government, and for the time being, the JCILPS will hold any talk on the matter with the government.
Meanwhile, the JCILPS convener said that the movement of the committee still prevails, while asserting that the purpose of the extension of ILPS in the state is yet to be fully addressed. Phulindro also said that the main objective of the implementation of the ILPS is to protect the indigenous people of the state and the same is yet to be fulfilled by the government.
Like in the previous years, the JCILPS will observe the 7th death anniversary of Sapam Robinhood on July 8. The day will be observed at Awaching where the last rite of Sapam Robinhood was performed, Phulindro added.
