Tangkhul.Katamnao Saklong (TKS), the apex student body of Tangkhul community has strongly condemned the arrest of President and General Secretary of ATSUM along with 4 senior activist. The Bill introduced today in the Manipur Legislative Assembly have been strongly criticised and have been called a “Name Sake Bills”.
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
In support of the emergency shutdown being called by ATSUM, the TKS has initiated and call for total shutdown at Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts beginning Tuesday evening. The TKS has seeks cooperation and support from the public.
The press release issued by TKS stated that “The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong is astounded by the atrocities met out by the Manipur Police towards the student leaders of All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) by unlawfully arresting four (4) student leaders including the President and the GS along with four (4) senior activists while the student bodies were edorsing the legislators of the hills in recommending The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021 guaranteed under the Article 371 (C) of the Indian Constitution. Therefore, the Saklong, in support of the Emergency Shutdown being called by the ATSUM, will initiate the same immediately. The Saklong seeks cooperation and support from the public.”
The Bill introduced today in the Manipur Legislative Assembly have been strongly criticised and have been called a “Name Sake Bills”.
As circulated in social.media, a statement issued by ATSUM reads “The Tribals in Manipur under the banner of ATSUM have been striving towards an inclusive governance for better transparency and bridge the gap of development, to bring equal development. Under Article 371C ,Tribals of Manipur under the Government of India have the full authority and autonomy under Autonomous District Council. But, whereas the Government of Manipur have been manipulating the tribal rights by fooling the general public introducing Piti Bills so called District Council Bill by eliminating the most important sentence AUTONOMOUS.
“Whereas, by introducing such a Bill we are left with no option but we are going to be played and fool by the Government, whereas the autonomy of the District Council will by no means Autonomous but simply a puppet body driven by the state Government which is never under the charters of Demand. The Bills recommended by the Hill Areas Committee (HAC BILL 2021) is never considered or consulted by the Governmmet before introducing the Bill in the state assembly. The Bill introduced today i.e. 2 August 2022 is a self vested interest individual Bills which will never be accepted by the Tribal people at large until and unless the Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 recommended by HAC is introduced and passed in the State Legislative Assembly.”
President of RKL, Somipam Vashum stated that “Members of HAC should take complete responsibility for the Bill being introduced today in the State Legislative Assembly. We have lost our faith in our elected representatives for failing to safeguard the interest of the tribals.”
Volunteers of TKS has started enforcing strict shutdown in Ukhrul Headquarters and appeal the people to extend their cooperation.