Emergency session of Manipur Legislative Assembly convened today under undue pressure from the people of the state has unanimously resolved to withdraw the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Worker (MRVT&MW) Bill, 2015 passed by the house on March 16, 2015. The motion for withdrawal of the Bill as moved by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who is also the leader of the house and was unanimously passed by the house.
However, no fresh bill was presented, as demanded by the JCILPS as the government need to prepare another bill which will not oppose by any section of people. With the passing of the resolution to withdraw the bill, the Chief Minister appealed the people of the state to express their view and assured the preparation of the bill will be completed within 3 months.
Government will work out for the bill starting from today, the chief Minister added.
On the technicalities of whether a bill, which has been reserved by the Governor for consideration of the President can be withdrawn or not, the Chief Minister said that his government has consulted with constitutional experts and there has been instances of West Bengal Government withdrawing the Unani Medical College and Hospital (Taking over of Management and subsequent Acquisition) Bill, 2009 and the Daridra Bandhav Bhandar (Taking Over of Management & Subsequent Acquisition)Bill 2009 which were reserved for consideration of the president. In view of this there is no legal binding to the withdrawal of the bill as the people are against it, Chief Minister said.
The MRVT&MW Bill, 2015 was presented in the 10 session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 15 and was passed by the house on March 16. Five opposition MLAs walk out of the house while passing the bill as the MLAs are of the opinion that the bill did not content the recommendations made by representatives of the political parties. MLA Dr. I Ibohalbi had suggested the house to refer the bill to a select committee for inclusion of the left over portion.
“The Bill was passed without considering the proposal of MLA Dr. I Ibohalbi for referring it to a select committee as there were apprehension on the side of the government to the probable misconception from the general public as another technique to delay it”, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister further said that after the passing of the MRVT&MW Bill, 2015 passed by the house on March 16 was presented to the Governor of Manipur on march 20, and the bill was reserved for consideration of the President of India on June 23. Later, the governor’s office referred the Bill to the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 8 for taking consent of the President.
Okram Ibobi further appealed the people of the state to bear with the state government as the state government is for the people.
