ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO-GHQ and ATSUM federating units resolved that the state government shall be held accountable for resumption of the temporarily suspended agitation, in the event of breach of an agreement by the state government.
TFM Desk
All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Tuesday endorsed the resolution taken by the Hill Areas Committee November 29, 2021 in regard to the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021.
In an emergency meeting on Monday, the HAC unanimously resolved and reiterated that a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly be convened at the earliest for introducing and considering the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021.
The meeting of ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO-GHQ and ATSUM federating units held on Tuesday condemned the failure of state government to materialise the agreed point of an agreement signed between state government and ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO-GHQ representatives on November 25, 2021 within stipulated time. The sincerity of the state government to resolve the stalemate was questioned in the meeting, ATSUM said in a release.
It was also resolved that the state government shall be held accountable for resumption of the temporarily suspended agitation, in the event of breach of an agreement by the state government.
ATSUM also implored the government to announce the dates for winter session as mutually agreed on November 25, 2021.
Asserting that, failing this assurance would be regarded as befooling the tribal population in the state once again, ATSUM urged the government not to repeat the “history of disappointing the tribals and conveniently ignoring and dismissing tribal legitimate rights”.
The student body also reminded the state government of the past precedent that in August of 2015, an emergency session was called and the controversial three Bills were introduced and passed in three days.
The present Bill recommended by the Hill Areas Committee aims to improve the acute development disparity between the hills and the valley, to improve governance for 41 percent of the population of the state living in 90 percent of the geographical area of Manipur, it added.
“ATSUM, as representative of tribal population, will not tolerate the unconstitutional denial of tabling a Bill that aims to usher equity and equality in the state of Manipur”.
On Monday, the HAC held an emergency meeting with regard to the meeting notice dated 27 November, 2021 received from the additional chief secretary (TA & Hills).
The committee unanimously decided and resolved that the meeting notice was ultra vires which directly contradicts the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly and thereby breaking all conventions as followed by the legislature since the creation of the state in 1972.
On the other hand, the State Government Committee mandated to discuss with the HAC on their proposed draft “The Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021” had convened a meeting on Monday at the conference hall of the old secretariat.
“However, it is deeply regretted that the Hill Areas Committee citing procedural matters unrelated to the meeting convened refrained from attending because of the technicality of the HAC rules,” stated a press statement by additional chief secretary (TA & Hills), Letkhogin Haokip.
The release maintained that the intent of the state government is to amicably resolve the issues arising out of the proposed Bill and will continue to take all possible measures to mitigate the issue.