Sitting session starts on bill of migrants

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IMPHAL July 23: The five member drafting committee which shall draft the replacement bill seeking to regulate the entry and settlement of the migrants in Manipur has started its sitting from Wednesday. This was announced by the forest minister Debendra Thoudam during an impromptu press conference on Wednesday night in his office.

He said that the objective of the committee is to draft a bill within the framework of the constitution and which is also acceptabale to the people. The constitution permits the Indian citizens to visit all states and settle anywhere in the country. At the same time there is a move to protect the interests of the indigenous people. The bill should be the one which should be given assent by the president and the governor.

He also sought the cooperation of Joint Committee on the Inner Line Permit System in drafting the bill which should be completed and passed within one month. Though the chief minister Okram Ibobi wanted three months’ time the all political parties gave him one month since it is enough. However JCILPS which has been spearheading the widespread movement says that since all materials are in the possession of the government it should pass it within 15 days. It is threatening to intensify the movement if the government fails to do so. Regarding the participation in the talks the government has not extended a formal invitation. In any case JCILPS had announced that it will not take part in the talks since it suspects the sincerity of the government in passing the bill.

The Regulation of Visitors, Tents and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 was passed in the Assembly on March 16 but was withdrawn under public pressure on July 15. Now the government is drafting the fresh bill.

However the governor refused to give his assent probably because of the fact that there is a word, Migrant, in the bill which may not be in the letter and spirit of the constitution. Manipur has been passing through chaos. One student was gunned down on July 8 and his body is still in the morgue unclaimed by the family.

Every day there are sit in protests and at night the women make the electric posts to their calling bells. There are torchlight processions unmindful to the curfew.Police have been uble to control the mob. Several policemen were also injured when youths had attacked them with slingshots.