MLA Biren asks Neiphio Rio to study before making comment on ILPS issue

Wahengbam Rorrkychand
Imphal, Oct 17: Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Nongthombam Biren has questioned the authority of Nagaland MP, Neiphio Rio and Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla who are urging the Government of India not to give consent to the Bills.
His comment came after Neiphio Rio recently justifies about his letter to Prime Minister of India urging the government of India not to give its consent to the bills as it reportedly against the welfare, desire and will of the tribal people.
While requesting the MP of Nagaland and Chief Minister of Mizoram to mind their own business rather than to be a part in the division of Manipur, N Biren also asked their (Neiphio Rio and other politicians from Nagaland and Mizoram) problems in introducing permit system for non-Manipuri people in Manipur on lines with other three northeastern states- Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland where ILPS was already implemented to protect their land and people from the alleged looming threats posed by large scale non-local migrants.
He also urged the MP of Nagaland to study the Bills thoroughly before making any comments as their unsolicited remarks might add fuel to communal tension and divide the state of Manipur in communal lines.
After yearlong protests under the leadership of Joint Action Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), the Manipur Assembly had passed the three Bills- The Protection of Manipur People’s – 2015; Manipur Land Revenues and Land Reforms Bill (MLR & LR) (Seventh Amendment) – 2015, and The Manipur Shops and Establishments Bills (Second Amendment)-2015 on August 31, 2015.
However, soon after the bills were passed some tribal organisations opposed Bills with the apprehension that the “Anti-tribal Bills” would undermine the existing land ownership pattern in hill areas and majority community- Meitei would grab their lands.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter of Nelive at his Majorkhun official residence, N Biren, who is also a member of drafting committee of ILPS Bills clarified that there is no question of argument over the Bill (MLR & R) as it is an amendment to the existing undisputed MLR & LR Bill. In consultation with legal experts, the bills were amended “within the scope of the Bills and relevant to the subject matter of the clause to which it relates” as per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
“There is no inconsistency with the existing MLR & LR which is currently in force in Manipur and two other Bills. However, if any human errors are detected and found to be stand against any section of the indigenous people of Manipur, the state government is ready to call back the Bills,” the MLA retorted.
The hills areas in Manipur are protected under Article 371 (C) as Scheduled Land under which no one could settle at the specified areas except by the scheduled tribes of the state. The objective of the Bills is to protect the land and people of the state from the unchecked influx of non-Manipuri and safeguard the holistic interest of the indigenous people.
“Since it does not affect the interest of the any community of the state, there was no room for consulting Hill area development committee at the time of amending the MLR & LR Bill. While Any Bill should be prospective and not retrospective,” said the MLA.
Condemning the recent unrest at Churachandpur district and death of civilians during anti-ILPS Bills protest demonstrations, the MLA also said that such rumours spread out by political leaders and some section of the society misled the people that led to instigation of public uproar against the Bills.