Of Humane Act and Genuine Case : Toying around with words
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 28, 2012 -

Sit-in-demonstration for ILPS implementation in Manipur at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 25 November 2012
Pix - Lalremlien Neitham

Riddlespeak. This is obviously the yardstick to be bracketed in the class of 'seasoned politicians'.

Way back in 2004, no one less than the Prime Minister of India, the good Dr Manmohan Singh, had said that a more humane Act is needed in place of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act but there is no indication that the this Act will go anytime in the future.

Fast forward to 2012 and now Union Home Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde has said that the matter raised by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System is 'genuine' but has refused to give any assurance on implementing it.

More humane Act. Genuine case. But nothing to indicate that changes will indeed be brought about at the ground reality.

Diplomacy at work here ? Or is it Public Relations ?

The truth however is neither of these two tactics will work in addressing pressing issues brought forward by concerned people of the State.

This is not the time for exchanging pleasantries and acknowledging that the concerns raised by the JCILPS are genuine without any assurance to do something about it is nothing less than sugar coating words.

Urging the Government to implement the Inner Line Permit System is not any tantrum thrown by a child, this much should be clear to Delhi, and hence sugar coated words will not have any takers.

If Delhi refuses to move beyond the 'genuine case' then there is every likelihood of things taking an ugly turn and no we are not pressing the alarm button.

That the ILPS is not the sole answer to check large scale influx into Manipur is a reality, with neighbouring Nagaland offering the best example, but there is the need to appreciate the spirit behind the demand, a realisation that the fear and apprehensions that have been spelt out are not perceived but real.

In implementing the ILPS in Manipur or in extending the provisions of the ILPS to the State, Delhi would be conveying the message that it has acknowledged the changing demographic profile of the people and the land.

A look around should suffice. Assam is a living example of how large scale influx from across the border can vitiate the atmosphere and can have multiple effects, the recent large scale exodus of North East people from some cities of India being an example.

There are enough material and literature around to understand the impact of large scale influx of migrants to a place and we have already pointed this out on more than one occasion.

This is not the time to toy around with words and niceties but to get down to the basics.

Has Delhi really studied why the Manipur Legislative Assembly should deem it fit to pass a resolution to demand the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State ?

The Union Home Minister should answer this question. The JCILPS has already demonstrated its maturity in rolling back the ultimatum it had served on the State Government and it is only right that this be reciprocated positively.

On the other hand it should also be clear to the people that in demanding the Inner Line Permit System, they should not be seen to be sitting on the wrong side of the law.

The profile of the illegal migrants should not be confused or else it would trigger another issue which can have far reaching effects. The need to draw the line unambiguously should be clear.

The issue is all that more important in the face of the Look East Policy taken up with earnest by the Government of India.