ATSUM calls shutdown, threatens intense stir
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 01 2022:
All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has announced imposition of a 24-hour 'total shutdown' with effect from 6 pm of August 3 in the hill districts of Manipur.
In a statement issued Monday, ATSUM said, "Expressing strong resentment against the state government's lackadaisical attitude towards the wish and desire of the tribal people for tabling of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) recommended "The Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill 2021" in the ongoing Manipur Legislative Assembly session and the deceitful act of the incumbent HAC members in deviating from its previous position, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) is constrained to call 24 hours total shutdown with effect from, 6 pm of August 3 to 6 pm of August 4, 2022 in the entire hill districts of the state" .
The tribal students' body said that the total shutdown will be followed by "intense forms'" of agitations from August 5.ATSUM also said that in its continued "selfless and relentless efforts'" for strengthening the Autonomous District Councils as mandated by the Article 371C of the Constitution of India read with the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Orders 1972, is compelled to resort to agitation demanding the tabling of the ADC Bill 2021 in the ongoing Assembly session.
According to ATSUM, the decision to call the bandh is in pursuance of the resolutions adopted in the 2nd ATSUM General Assembly at Haipi village, Sadar Hills and resolution adopted at subsequent meeting of ATSUM, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur' (ANSAM), Kuki Students' Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ), federating units of ATSUM on July 28and the virtual meeting with federating units of ATSUM on July 31 to demand for tabling of the HAC recommended ADC Bill in the Assembly.
The ATSUM, therefore, appealed to all private and government educational institutes, government offices, business establishments, private vehicles, truckers and other transporters and the public for cooperation.
It added that essential services like medical, power, media, water supply will be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.