NEW DELHI, June 7 - Amidst growing tension, an all-party delegation from Manipur, led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him about the need for the Presidential Assent to convert three Inner Line Permit system-related Bills into Acts.
The development came even as the Manipur Tribal�s Forum staged a demonstration against the all-party delegation in front of the Manipur Bhavan here.
The Chief Minister, who was joined by representatives of BJP, LJD, JD(U), CPI(M), among others, conveyed to the Home Minister the necessity of getting the Presidential Assent to the three Bills, which were opposed by tribal groups of the State. Singh gave a patient hearing to the delegation, official sources said.
The three Bills were passed last year in August after months of mass movement to protect the indigenous populace from the illegal immigrants in the State, including those from neighbouring Myanmar.
The delegation sought Presidential Assent to have the three Bills converted into Acts. The Bills have been strongly opposed by the various tribal groups, including the Nagas and Kukis, who mainly inhabit the hill districts of Manipur.
The Manipur Tribal�s Forum (MTF) has for many months been protesting in New Delhi against the three Bills and the death of nine young protesters last September in Churachandpur district of the State. Last month, four legislators of the Naga People�s Front met the Home Minister and asked him not to take any action for ensuring the presidential nod to the three Bills.
The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), which is spearheading the movement for the legislation to protect the indigenous population from migrants, threatened of a shutdown against the delay in enactment of the three Bills.
The Bills are: The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.
Our Imphal Correspondent adds: Meanwhile, the JCILPS has called a 13-hour �cease-work strike� from 5 am tomorrow.
In another development, the Joint Action Committee Against Anti Tribal Bills has decided to imposed a 10-day economic blockade on all Highways passing through Manipur as well as ban on all ongoing national projects in the tribal areas from June 9 midnight till June 19 midnight, according to another press release.
