“Satisfied or not satisfied, we the ruling stands together when it comes to the passing of bills” – this is perhaps the hangover attitude from the British colonial regime to the present democratic set up in India. When a bill is introduced, it was deliberated in the house and if the bill is of exceptional public demand and interest, than the content of the bill is made to the public through various means of mass media and then invite opinions from the general public. This is a constitutional provision, but the practice is different in the present day democratic set up. Whether agreed or not members of the treasury bench are left with no option but to support it.
The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015, introduced by the leader of the house during the just concluded august session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly was passed in voice vote amidst protest by five opposition MLAs inside the house and also amidst hue and cry from the members of the JCIPS outside the house.
Public has little knowledge on the content of the Bill as it has not been openly made known through proper publication at any of the local newspaper or media houses. Some few people who are directly engaging in the agitation for introduction of an ILP like act and those editors of some sections of media who had close attachment with the MLAs or minister manage to get a copy of the bill.
It was yesterday only when the bill was discussed in the house that people have the understanding about the various loopholes of the Bill. Some of the MLAs including one from the Treasury bench had pointed out some of the loopholes in the bill which might face difficulties at the time of implementing it. From what has been suggested by MLA Lishom Ibomcha it has also been come to the notice that the bill which was introduced was nothing new as 8 other acts already exist which cannot be implemented due to lack of manpower in the state labour department.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi might have felt the necessity of passing the bill with the pressure from the JCILPS for passing of a bill to check the illegal influx of outsiders in the state. The idea suggested by some MLAs to once more look into it by forwarding to the select committee has been rejected straight away on the ground that such a bill needs to be passed with the kind of pressure from the JCILPS. While saying so the leader of the house seems to have ignored the strong opposition made by the JCILPS against the bill.
Points need to be noted here is that the government is not having any second thought while introducing the bill as well as while passing it. The bill will become an act only after the governor with the permission of the president give assent to it. It is not expected that office of the governor is served by a group of fools which do not knows the existing laws of the land. When the content of bill is no different from other existing Act why should the governor give accent to it? Moreover one opposition MLA had also pointed out that the ‘migrant’ mentioned in the bill comes under the union list and there is a possibility that the matter will be return back to once more re-look.
Yesterday the Chief Minister said that pending to the passing of the bill will be considered as delaying tactics by the people. But the fact notice and seen to the passing of the bill is that the intention for passing of the bill is nothing but to suppress the agitation of the JCILPS and not for safeguarding the indigenous people of the state as demanded by the people.
