Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 28:
Conveying deep concern over the incessant influx of peoples from other States and beyond the country in the State, the Inner Line Permit System Demand Committee has urged all political parties in the State to include the issue in their manifestoes for the forthcoming elections and to effect introduction of the system in Manipur whoever comes to power after the elections.
A statement issued by the Committee lamented that even though the incumbent SPF Govt had taken up many infrastructure development programmes, it remains askance to the lurking threat of the extinction of indigenous peoples from the State.
According to the estimate made from the 2001 census report, outsiders constitute 7,04,488 people out of the total population of Manipur which was 22,93,896, observed the statement.
Further, the rate of population increase during 1951-1961 was 35.04 percent, 37.53 during 1961-1971.But before the merger of Manipur into Indian Union, the rate of population increase during 1941-51 was 12.40 percent, it disclosed.
Expressing strong apprehension over the possibility of rendering the indigenous peoples minority in their own land within 30 years if the dangerous trend continues, the Committee asserted that need of the hour and foremost wish of the people was to check the unrestrained influx of people from other States and beyond the country.
Appealing to all political parties to treat the issue of Inner Line Permit System and its introduction in Manipur as the most overriding agenda of the forthcoming elections, it asked the political parties, both regional and national, not to give election tickets to any candidate who is not a native of the State.