IMPHAL, July 11 � The agitation launched by the Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies (FREINDS) demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Manipur has intensified.
Besides students bodies and NGOs, the Manipur People�s Party (MPP) on Wednesday staged a sit-in demonstration in front of their party office here in support of the demand.
�The time has come for us to check the unrestrained inflow of migrants into the State. So we are demanding immediate introduction of ILP system in the State�, said MPP President S Umananda while taking part in the sit-in.
�MPP wants the on-going Assembly session to discuss the issue and take a decision in in the interest of the indigenous population�, he added.
MPP�s former president and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr L Chandramani and former president Col H Bhuban (Retd) and other prominent leaders of the party also attended the sit- in protest.
Demanding introduction of ILP system to check and monitor the inflow of migrant workers in the State, womenfolk and representatives of various social bodies also staged a sit-in demonstration at 11 different places in Imphal West and Jiribam sub-division headquarter.
On Tuesday, several students bodies tried to storm the State Assembly complex as part of apprising their demand. But the police stopped them on the way to the Assembly premises.
The agitation is a long-standing impasse since the early 1980s when the All Manipur Students Organisation (AMSU) spearheaded a stir to send back outsiders.
According to FREINDS, after the ILP system in Manipur was lifted on November 18, 1950, there has been an unregulated flood of migrants from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.
�If the Government of Manipur failed to adopt a decision on re-implementation of ILP system during the current Assembly session, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System would be compelled to enforce ILP with the cooperation of the public�, said Somorendro Thokchom, Media Coordinator of the newly-formed Committee.
