All Manipur Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) had called a total shutdown in the entire hill districts on December 18, 2021 from 5 am to 5 pm.
TFM Desk
Joint Tribe Student’s Association (JTSA) and Thadou Inpi General Headquarters (Thadou Inpi GHQ) have decided not to participate in the total shut down called by All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) from 5 am to 5pm on December 18 (Saturday).
ATSUM) had called the shutdown in hill districts against the government for not tabling the Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 in the Assembly.
In a press note, JTSA convenor Daichui Gangmei said that the decision was taken in the “larger interest of the people especially during this festive season” after a prolonged deliberation on the issue.
He said that “JTSA unanimously resolved, not to endorse the shutdown”. “It is hereby informed to general public to clear confusion, that there shall be a normal functioning of all day to day activities for both government and private establishments, National and State construction companies and NH-37 at the larger interest of the people in all JTSA Jurisdiction during the said shut down”, said JTSA.
JTSA also appealed to ATSUM to defer the total shutdown in public interest and “conduct more public consultation to spread awareness on the present HAC recommended ADC Bill 2021”
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Meanwhile, Thadou Inpi-General Headquarters also said that it regretted to learn that ATSUM announced a total shutdown on December 18 in the entire hill districts of Manipur and a mass rally at Delhi in support of the controversial ADC Bill, 2021.
Thadou Inpi-General Headquarters, however, said that “to impose a shutdown during such an important festive time of Christmas is unwise and uncalled for as this is a time for people, particularly Christians, to go for Christmas shopping and do many other activities as they prepare and wait for Christmas celebration”.
The Inpi has also appealed to ATSUM to be “sensitive and withdraw the proposed bandh in public interest and said ATSUM “should have held wider consultations with all tribal bodies before announcing shutdown and mass rally if they are genuinely concerned about the ADC Bill 2021”.
However, if ATSUM goes ahead with its proposed shutdown regardless of this appeal, the shutdown will not be observed in Thadou-inhabited areas, said the Inpi in a press note issued by its department of information and publicity.