House withdraws controversial bill

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IMPHAL, July 15: The Manipur Assembly on Wednesday withdrew the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tents and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015.

Soon after the House began chief minister Okram Ibobi made a lengthy statement on how the government has taken a decision to withdraw the Bill since the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) is dead against it.

The controversial Bill was passed on March 16 last.

However there have been allegations that the chief minister had altered some parts of the bill and that what was passed in the House was not the one approved by the all political parties committee.

The chief minister on Wednesday said that another bill will be introduced within 3 months. He sought cooperation from experts and activists on the issue and assured the House if public opinions are made available, the Bill may be introduced much earlier. It can be mentioned that this is the first time, the Manipur Assembly has withdrawn a duly passed Bill. The state also witnessed various protests against the bill in which one student lost his life in police firing.