Sit-in protests demanding introduction of ILPS
Different social organisations have been organising sit-ins at various parts of the valley for more than the past two weeks including major places like Pishum, Wangkhei, Sagolband, Singjamei, Uripok and others demanding immediate introduction of the ILPS.
They said ruling Congress legislature party members had so far held two meetings in the past five days to discuss the introduction of a bill in the current session of the assembly for proper implementation of the ILPS but the meetings could not take any decision as some members wanted an opinion from the Home ministry.
"It is in the hands of the state government and there is no point seeking opinion from the Union Home ministry," said noted lawyer and former district sessions judge C Upendra Singh.
A spokesman of the Federation of Regional Indigenous Society (FRIENDS) which has been steering for implementation of the ILPS in Manipur for past several months said FRIENDS would continue their stir till demand was fulfilled.
He said labourers, daily wage earners and businessmen who have entered Manipur in the past some decades have outnumbered the total population of tribes in state's hill districts.