The very fact that the Inner Line Permit is meant to protect tribal cultures in Northeastern India is known to all in the rest of India (“ >‘Us’, ‘them’ and an elusive peace ”, Sept.7). Then why do the Meiteis who are not tribals demand it when they are aware of the impossibility in implementing it in the State as the hill districts are already ‘protected’? It is clear that the Meiteis are trying to use ILP as an excuse to protect the people of Manipur from outsiders so that a law which can be extended to the hill districts can be passed. This is because the valley is rapidly getting congested due to a growing population. Why was the organisation that led the demand for ILP silent when the Manipur Assembly passed the three Bills recently? The 2001 census figures on outsiders were a manipulation. In reality, there are just about a lakh outsiders in Manipur. Though no law has been officially passed to restrict the settlement of tribals in the valley districts, their migration to these districts has been banned by valley-based militant groups. I can cite the example of a friend who was not allowed to build a house at Mantripukhri in Imphal in 2006.
Solomon P. Haokip,
Churachandpur, Manipur
