IMPHAL: Deputy chief minister Gaikhangam has said drafting of a new bill to regulate flow of migrants in the state is nearing completion and the same will be introduced in the upcoming monsoon budget session.The new statute will be acceptable to the people of the valley and the hill districts to protect and preserve the rights of the indigenous people here, Gaikhangam, who also holds the home portfolio, said. He added that senior lawyers of the Supreme Court had been consulted in drafting it.The popular movement spearheaded by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) demands enactment of a new law to stem the influx of 'outsiders' in the state and is gaining momentum in the valley districts. Besides seeking implementation of anti-migrant influx law, hordes of civil and student organizations have launched a series of agitations demanding that the 'wanted' tag of Khomdram Ratan, the former JCILPS convener, be revoked.After the President withheld the Protection of Manipur People's (PMP) Bill, 2015, passed by the state assembly, the Okram Ibobi Singh government began the ground work to introduce a new bill.Two other statutes, The Manipur Land Reform and Land Revenue (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, and the Shops and Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015, were put under scanner by the experts. The tribal people in the hill districts, however, opposed the bills, terming them "anti-tribal".At least nine tribal people were killed, six in police action, during a violent protest against the three bills in August and September last year at the Churachandpur district headquarters. The bodies are still lying unclaimed here. The Churachandpur locals also formed the self-explanatory Joint Action Committee (JAC) against 'anti-tribal' bills.An all-political party meeting chaired by the chief minister in June had appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace. Prior to the monsoon assembly session, likely to be held in the latter half of August, another meeting of all political parties will be convened to discuss the new draft bill, Gaikhangam said. On Monday, the CM convened a meeting of his council of ministers to discuss the draft bill. A source said the government has also been working to bring an understanding with the Churachandpur JAC in forming the new bill.

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