Manipur students stage sit-in protest

Manipuri students studying here today staged a sit-in-protest, to express solidarity with the agitating groups demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state of Manipur.
The demonstration sponsored by the Shillong Manipuri Students' Union (SMSU) was held at the Don Bosco Square, Laitumkhrah in Shillong here.
"The demonstration was to express our support and solidarity with the agitating groups in Manipur who are demanding the implementation of the ILP, a system to control influx and illegal immigration," SMSU president Chongtham Thangmaba Meetei told reporters here.
Series of agitations have been launched by several pro-ILP groups to pressurise the government of Manipur, the need to implement the ILP, a mechanism to curb the inflow of influx and illegal immigration into the state.

Urging the Manipur government to have dialogue with the pro-ILP groups, Meetei said, "Even if they (government) say ILP is an outdated act, but there should be some other mechanism to safeguard the indigenous people, their culture and identity."
He also maintained that the Union is not against anybody but it is just concern about the possibility that outsiders can outnumber the local indigenous people.
Meanwhile, the Adviser of SMSU Surjit S Thokchom said, "the demand for ILP is not a demand to isolate Manipur from the rest of India.