Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System Manipur today demands a clarification from the speaker of Manipur State Assembly, Yumnan Khemchand regarding a statement he made which was published in Guwahati newspaper “ Deinik Purbodaya” on 10 September 2017. The matter came to the knowledge of the committee after a clip of the newspaper was circulated in social media recently. 

According to a release from the committee it stated that, the speaker made a statement which can be roughly translated as, “Inner line permit demand is a wrong move, prohibiting a citizen of the country from entering another state. 

 He said “permanent Indian citizens should be protected” and he went on to say he would discuss the matter with the state chief minister. 
The release further mentioned that the demand for ILP system in Manipur is not a new thing instead different organisations in the state had initiated the movement since 1980. 

All Manipur Students Union and All Manipur Students Coordinating Committee started a movement regarding the issue after which the state government signed an agreement with the organisations on 22 July 1980 and 5th August 1980.

Later the state government and AMSU sign an agreement on 9 November 1994, thereafter the state government after considering the demands passed the “The Manipur people’s Bill 2018” which is still waiting for the assent of President of India. The release also accused that that the speaker of making the statement to please the leaders in the Centre which.  It said is unfortunate for the state as a whole.  

In the ongoing power tussle witnessed in the state within The BJP to replace the current chief Minister, the Manipur legislative Assembly speaker,  Y.  Khemchand is a forerunner waiting in wings to be replaced if the incumbent chief minister, N Biren Singh, is to be dropped.