IMPHAL, March 24 � Activists of the Manipur People�s Party (MPP), the oldest regional political party in the North East, today staged a sit-in protest demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit system in Manipur. The party also rejected the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT & MW) Bill 2015, which was passed in the recently concluded State Assembly session.
The sit-in demonstration, which was held in front of the party�s head office at the busy Pologround in Imphal, was attended by MPP president N Sovakiran, party�s advisor and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr L Chandramani, among others.
Speaking during the 10am-to-4pm sit-in, Sovakiran said, �We demand immediate withdrawal of the MRVT & MW Bill, as it does not address the issues of the indigenous people in the backdrop of the large-scale influx of migrants into the State.�
In his speech, Dr Chandramani demanded implementation of a regulation to control the inflow of illegal migrants as is done in other north-eastern States, like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. Such a move will help in protecting the interests of the indigenous people.�
Later, an MPP delegation submitted a memorandum to Governor Dr KK Paul urging him not to give his assent to the MRVT & MW Bill passed by the Manipur Assembly on March 16.
�The contents of the Bill are very much vague, contrary to the demands of the general public,� stated the MPP memorandum. It also added that the Bill was not discussed thoroughly or debated appropriately amongst the members present in the House and it was passed hastily.
