IMPHAL, June 28 - Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam today urged all stakeholders of the hills and valley of the State to extend sincere cooperation to the effort of the State Government in drafting a new Inner Line Permit (ILP)-related Bill in the Assembly.
�The anti-Bill group from the hills is still reluctant to come out with a clear-cut solution. They should also join the effort to help introduce a new Bill,� Gaikhangam told pressmen on the sidelines of a function here.
Of the three ILP-related Bills passed by the State Assembly on August 31 last year, the Protection of Manipur Peoples� Bill, 2015 was rejected by the President of India.
In a recent all-party meeting, it was decided that a fresh Bill would be tabled and passed in the State Assembly in its next session, likely in July, to protect the interest of the indigenous communities of the State.
�The rejection of the PMP Bill, 2015 is now known to everyone. I think the anti-Bill group should rejoice the Centre�s decision, but they are still showing resentment. I just don�t understand such reactions,� the Deputy CM said.
The tribal people in the hills want that the Government scrap the three contentious Bills, saying they harm their interest.
The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills, which completed 300 days of tribal movement on June 26, has vowed to continue the agitation against the three Bills.
The Manipur Deputy CM expressed his desire to assimilate inclusively the views and contribution of all stakeholders in drafting the new Bill which he said should be acceptable to all.
Meanwhile, stir continued unabated on Tuesday in many parts of the valley demanding prompt introduction of the ILP or a similar law to safeguard the interest of the indigenous people.
The pro-ILP protesters have also been demanding cancellation of the �wanted� tag on former leader of the committee, which has been spearheading a sustained public stir.
