Pointing out that the opposition to the proposed ADC Bill, 2021 by the government of Manipur before being introduced in the House is unconstitutional, CTCF said it was a “sinister design” to abrogate the spirit and principle of autonomy from the hill districts of Manipur.
TFM News Service
Concerned Tribal Citizens’ Forum (CTCF) has demanded the withdrawal of an order on the induction of valley MLAs into Hill Areas Committee (HAC) and has also pressed for the introduction of ADC Bill, 2021.
Terming the order on induction of nine MLAs as members of the HAC from the Non-Tribal Assembly Constituencies by the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly on September 1, 2021 as “unconstitutional”, the CTCF also urged the state government to call an emergency session of Manipur Legislative Assembly and introduce the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 (ADC Bill 2021).
In connection with the above issues, a meeting was held on September 5 at Nagaram Community Hall, Imphal. This meeting was attended by citizen representatives from Tribal Hill Districts of Manipur — Churachandpur, Tameng, Noney, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul, Kamjong and Kangpokpi.
In a press release, the CTCF said that the tribal citizen representatives minutely discussed the constitutionality of the proposed ADC Bill, 2021 drafted by the Hill Areas Committee and concluded that, there is nothing detrimental in introducing the ADC Bill, 2021 in the House of Manipur Legislative Assembly for discussion. “As per the provision of Article 371C, Hill Areas Committee of Manipur Legislative Assembly has every constitutional right to introduce the Bill in the House of Manipur Legislative”, said CTCF.
Pointing out that the opposition to the proposed ADC Bill, 2021 by the state government before being introduced in the House is unconstitutional, CTCF said it was a “sinister design” to abrogate the spirit and the principle of autonomy from the hill districts of Manipur. The tribal representatives also vehemently condemned the act of the government of Manipur.
Stating that appointing of non-tribal MLAs as the members of HAC is an act demeaning the Constitutional Provisions of Article 371C, CTCF said the HAC was constituted exclusively for the tribal communities by an Order of the President of India in 1972.
“Knowingly overriding the Order of the President of India by the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly is an attempt to create chaos, instability, social and political disorderliness in the State of Manipur”, said CTCF. The Order of the Speaker is “purely is a threat to peaceful co-existence among the different communities of Manipur”, it added.
“Failure to comply with this, the forum shall be compelled to take up further course of action in protecting the rights of the tribal people of Manipur”, said the press release issued by the secretary of CTCF Ngatangmi Hungyo.