Earlier in the day, the Kuki Inpi Manipur submitted a representation to the chief minister requesting to rescind the controversial order. It said that the inclusion of nine assembly constituencies in the HAC is nothing but an attempt to interfere with and encroach into the HAC functioning
TFM News Service
The Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday put to rest its controversial order inducting eight MLAs from valley districts as members of Hill Areas Committee for now. The memberships of eight MLAs in the Hill Areas Committee are hereby kept in abeyance until further order, said an order issued by Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretary K Meghajit Singh.
The decision follows applications dated September 3, 2021 and September 4, 2021 from Lourembam Rameshwar Meetei MLA, 6-Keirao A/C;) Khumukcham Joykisan, MLA, 9-Thangmeiband A/C; Karam Shyam, MLA, 20-Langthabal A/C; Nameirakpam Loken Singh, MLA, 24-Nambol A/C (5) Laishram Radhakishore Singh, MLA, 25 Oinam A/C; Y Antas Khan, MLA, 30-Lilong A/C; Keisham Meghachandra Singh, MLA, 32-Wangkhem A/C and Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, MLA, 33-Heirok A/C, said the order.
Earlier in the day, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) submitted a representation to Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh requesting to rescind order issued by Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly vide on September 1 with regards to induction of nine MLAs from the Valley districts as Members of the Hill Area Committee Manipur.
The representation said that the Kuki Inpi reiterates its firm belief in peaceful coexistence in the state, and recognises that mutual respect among the different communities of each other’s political, constitutional and legal rights are the way forward.
Declaring the order issued by the Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly as undemocratic, the KIM said it will not stand the tests of constitutionality under Article 371C of the Constitution if the State Govt fails to consult the people living in the hills.
“That, the nine Assembly constituencies notified by the Speaker of the Assembly are not from the districts or sub-divisions notified as ‘Hill Areas’ in the provisions of Article 371(c). But, they are from the valley districts which are all outside the Hill Areas notified in the First Schedule,” it said.
The KIM further said that the inclusion of nine assembly constituencies in the HAC is nothing but an attempt to interfere with and encroach into the functioning of the Hill Areas Committee.
“Such an ill-thought and misleading order issued by the Secretary Manipur Legislative Assembly is an affront and assault on the people living in the Hill Areas with ill motives to continue and perpetuate the exploitation of the hill people and undermines the constitutional protections and safeguards given to the hill tribes under Article 371 (C) of the Indian Constitution, in relation to their land ownership systems and their culture,” it added.
Stating that any conversion of Land-use, particularly of Tribal lands requires strict observance of procedures, particularly the clearance of the relevant District Council, the KIM alleged that all the land-use conversions have been rushed and proposed during the absence of ADC’s is also apparent that the whole strategy of the government is to circumvent this technical necessity by keeping the ADC under dissolution.
The representation was signed by Kuki Inpi Manipur general secretary Shokholun Mate and Kuki Inpi Manipur president Khaimang Chengloi.