NPF ex-ADC members slam HAC over pending ADC polls
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, March 30 2023:
The Hill Areas Committee (HAC) in Manipur has come under the scanner of NPF former members of Autonomous District Council (ADC), Ukhrul in the background of the council's long-pending elections.
NPF's ex-members of ADC Ukhrul Paothing Vashum, Yangmi Shimray, Hs Ngamsung and HA Vareshang, while briefing media persons in Ukhrul town on Thursday evening, raised questions about the concern of the HAC regarding the matter of undue delay in ADC elections.
"For the past two years, the HAC has been silent when it comes to the matter of pending ADC polls in the hill districts.
This inaction has led to widespread outrage among the NPF ex-ADC Ukhrul members and party supporters," Paothing said, adding that HAC has shown little to no concern in finding a solution to the matter so far.
He contended that the failure to conduct the long overdue elections to the ADCs in hill districts is the result of HAC's failure to do anything concrete in the interest of tribal communities.
"With continuous delay in holding the ADC elections, the grassroots governance and welfare of the tribal communities have been jeopardised.
If the HAC is indifferent towards the sensitive issues of tribal communities, why then should we have faith in them? We are not happy with the HAC," he rued.
He said that it is pertinent for the HAC to show appropriate concern on the matter and demanded that it (HAC) should prevail upon the state government and come up with a concrete step to expedite the process for holding the long-pending ADC elections.
At the same time, the ex-ADC members also raised questions on the impartiality and fairness of the present government in the state.
Referring to the recent state government's order for reinstating the caretaker chairmen in the ADCs, Paothing stated that they were waiting for the government to notify the conduct of the long-pending elections and not an order to restore the erstwhile unconstitutional post of caretaker chairman.
Even then, in case of the move being necessitated by unavoidable circumstances, the protocols need to be followed, he continued.
"In a democracy, only the majority leads the government or takes up a role in important positions.
This principle of democracy should be abid-ed by, regardless of political changes, and the appointment of a caretaker chairman for the Council should follow the same principle.
In the case of Ukhrul ADC, there are 23 NRF members, out of 26 and there's only one member from the BJP.
"As per protocol, and by the rules of democracy, the vice-chairman of Ukhrul ADC, chosen from the ruling NPF should be the natural choice for the caretaker chairman, as the chairman had resigned.
Appointing the lone BJP ADC member as the caretaker chairman would be a direct insult to the NPF party and its MLAs and ministers," he said.
The former councillors said that even if it was an interim arrangement pending the ADC polls, they decried the government's move to make any political appointment in the ADCs.
The word 'early' is becoming hackneyed, as the government keeps using it to postpone the schedule of the ADC polls.
The government is citing the incomplete delimitation process as a reason to further delay the polls, but 'early' is quickly turning into 'too late', the ex ADC members pointed out.
They said that absence of grassroots governance is a major problem that is de priving the tribal people of their rights.
The government's announcement to hold the ADC elections in March-April is a welcoming step but is a mere political ploy.
The elections are due after expiry of the then council back in November 2020; yet, the government has not made any concrete efforts to hold the polls.
"This indicates a lack of will on the part of the state government to ensure accountable and just governance for the people, especially in the hills," they rued.
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