Talks between ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO-GHQ and ATSUM federating, and the state government in the presence of chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday could not find “any agreeable solution”, stated a press release by ATSUM.
TFM Desk
All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Friday announced that the proposed agitations — 24-hour total shutdown on November 20, 2021 in the hill districts and indefinite economic blockade along the National Highways from November 22, 2021 — will go ahead as scheduled after talks with the Manipur government failed to bring any agreement.
ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO-GHQ and ATSUM federating units held an official discussion on the contentious “Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill 2021” with the state government in the presence of chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday at the chief minister’s office. The positions of both the parties were stated in the meeting, but could not find “any agreeable solution”, stated a press release by ATSUM.
ATSUM asserted that it was unfortunate that the state government made a relentless effort to “misguide the public by constantly claiming that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 is a Parliament Act and cannot be repealed by the state Legislative Assembly”.
“The Manipur Gazette (Extraordinary) published by the Secretariat: Law and Legislative Affairs, Government of Manipur dated October 27, 2008 clearly stated that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 has continued to be in force in the state of Manipur with necessary adaptations under the Manipur (Adaptation of Laws) Order, 1972. Accordingly, the Manipur Legislative Assembly had repealed the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 in the year 2000 by enacting the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act, 2000 (Manipur Act No. 11 of 2000)”.
Corresponding upon the precedent of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 being repealed in the year 2000 and the rule of law, the student body asserted that the state government should stop misleading the public immediately and convene a special legislative assembly to table the Hill Area Committee recommended “Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill 2021”.
ATSUM also appealed to every right thinking populace of the state to “support the movement which aims to consolidate fraternity among all communities of the state”.