Manipur Tribals Call 48-Hour Shutdown Over Inner Line Permit

Imphal: Tribal activists have called a 48-hour general strike in the tribal areas of Manipur from May 15 midnight to protest against the government decision to urge the Centre to give assent to three bills passed in the state assembly.

Gaidon Kamei, president of the United Naga Council, said, "Our stand against the bills remains unchanged."

Naga leaders including former MLAs and MPs will hold a meeting on May 14 to reaffirm the stand.

Tribals in Manipur oppose the bills for being "anti-tribal".

However, many sections of people say that the tribal organisations have not pinpointed the clauses or wordings which are against the interest of the tribals since these bills are for regulating entry and stay of outsiders in Manipur.

The Inner Line Permit has been enforced in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur has also objected to the state leaders going to New Delhi over the issue. It said, "The government did not consult us on the issue."

It warned all Kuki MLAs not to represent any political party on the Delhi visit. The delegates have the onerous task of making the Delhi visit successful or face the wrath of the protesters.

Meanwhile, the women and student wings of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILP) have intensified their agitation. There have been sit-in demonstrations at various places by the students.

The Naga People's Front which had four MLAs in Manipur said that it opposes the three bills. The MLAs had resigned to protest against the passing of the bills in the assembly on August 31, 2015.