UADC adjourns Council session, condemns eviction of ADC members
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, September 13 2018:
The Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC) adjourned the annual Council session in solidarity with the six ADC members of Tamenglong and Ukhrul, who were evicted from State Youth Centre Complex, and condemned the "irresponsible act" of the State Government to the elected members of ADCs.
In a press conference held at the office of UADC chairman, Dickson Kumrah chairman of ADC, Ukhrul vehemently condemned on behalf of all the ADC members of Ukhrul District and alleged that it was preconceived intention of the State Government to "humiliate and subdue" the tribal elected leaders.
"The evicting of the ADC members by the State force was very unfortunate," he said and further asserted that the indefinite adjournment of UADC council session today is to mark the protest and condemnation against the ulterior motive of the State Government to deprive the rights endowed upon the Autonomous District Council.
He said, that the former Sports Minister, who is the present CM of the State, N Biren allotted the quarters in 2013.The ADC members were evicted without any alternative arrangements and are living in a pitiful state, he said.
He went on to mention other alleged ill treatment meted out to ADC members on different occasions.
Dickson alleged that he faced embarrassment while attending inauguration programme of 33/11 power sub-station in his DCC Nungbi Khullen.
Although he represented as the Chairman of ADC, Ukhrul, the department concerned "declined" to acknowledge his presence by showing unwillingness to write his name in the erected monument, he alleged.
Spokesperson of ADC, Ukhrul Paothing Vashum claimed that the State Government is yet to empower ADCs the rights to governance at the grassroot level.
"ADCs are unable to run smoothly in all the hill districts of the State as there is no separate budget and no power devolution," he alleged.
Executive member Mashunngam condemned the apathy of the State Government and alleged that there is no work progress in the ongoing construction of ADC administrative block.
EM quarter is far from completion in spite of the assurance of CM, he alleged.
EM Thanmi condemned the Government's decision and questioned why the "illegal occupants" staying at the ADC Bhavan Chingmeirong were not evicted instead of the elected ADC members.
He further demanded that office occupied by ST Commission in the new building of Council Bhavan has to be evicted "instantaneously" .
He questioned, "why the ADCs members have to pay the bills of electricity and water though they are not allowed to occupy or stay in the Council Bhavan" .
The Ukhrul ADC members expressed their strong resentment against the CM, TA & Hill Minister and Chairman HAC, for not heeding to their persistent approached for allotment of rooms at the Council Bhavan since from 2015 .