Imphal, November 18 2010: The Inner Line Permit (ILP) which was lifted from Manipur 60 years back in 1950 was the only means to protect the indigenous peoples, said dignitaries speaking at the observance function of the 'Permit System Deprivation day' at the Manipur Press Club under the aegis of the Federation of Regional Indigenous Society (FREINDS) .

FREINDS organized the day to mark the lifting of the inner line permit from the state on this day (November 18) in 1950.Former state human rights commission member RK Rajendra graced the function as chief guest which was presided by FRIENDS' president Sapamcha Jadumani.

Former minister, Rv Minthing, former MP, Kim Gangte and UCM president Yumnamcha Dilipkumar attended as guests of honour.

In his address as chief guest, RK Rajendra asserted it is a natural act to take opportunities by the majority people in a society.

Consequently, if the population of non-locals get increased, it is natural of the locals to take control of the state one day.

In such situations, indigenous people will find it difficult to protect their identities.

The only means to protect the identities of the indigenous people is the Inner Line Permit which was been lifted from the state 60 years back in 1950.If it is not re-enforced without delay, the indigenous people will become extinct, he observed.

It is a well known fact that there have been marked changes in demography in the state.

The population of non-Manipuris is increasing like a flood water.

A campaign for pressing the authorities to create an awareness among the leaders of the state is a must, he went on to observe.

UCM president, Dilipkumar reiterated that it is a fact that ILP was enforced in the state until government of India lifted it on November 18, 1950.Since the withdrawal of the system, influx of non-Manipuris in the state has been overwhelming.

The act of lifting the permit is a bone of contention.

Some leaders treated those who shout, for re-enforcing the ILP in the state as anti-Indian.

This is wrong and unfortunate.

They should keep in mind of the fact that in states like Mizoram and Nagaland the ILP is still in force.

Nobody brands them anti-Indian states.

Now is the best time to press the state leaders to work to bring back the ILP in the state, he said asserting that tomorrow will be too late.

FREINDS has been observing this day to make aware the people that Manipuris in Manipur are on the verge of extinction.

The total population of non-Mainpuris in the state is now nearly equal to the whole population of tribals.

FREINDS observing the tremendous increase in the number of illegal foreign immigrants and outsiders pressing the government for immediate action for identification and deletion of the names of foreigners and unauthorized outsiders from the electoral rolls and creation of a department for immigrants.

The root cause of the tremendous increase in the number of immigrants in Manipur has the lifting of the Inner Line Permit system from the state, the society observed adding that the population of the state jumped to 2.29 million in 2001 census from 1.84 million.

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