Proposed ADC Bill worries bodies, debate mooted
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 23 2021: Salai Kanba Lup (SKL) has appealed to Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of Manipur Legislative Assembly and authorities concerned to place the draft 'Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021' before all the indigenous people of the state for a thorough discussion prior to introducing the same in the state assembly.

According to a statement of SKL, the draft Bill proposed by HAC contains several points which could lead to operation of a parallel government andseparate administration in the state and such points should not figure in the Bill.

The draft Bill not only divides people of Manipur as hills and plain but also has the possibility of giving dual citizenship.

It would not be right to have separate administration within a state and there is possibility of the Bill becoming a big reason for permanently separating people of hills and plain of the state by creating division among communities, SKL maintained.

According to the SKL statement, since time immemorial people of hills and plain of Manipur/Kangleipak have been living together as brothers and sisters and this history cannot be altered and will ever remain as true.

The word hills and plain too should not have been separated as people of both hills and plain have same clans since time immemorial though adoption of different religions have come in the way of maintaining the fraternal bonding, it mentioned.

Meanwhile, Kanglei Ima Lup (KIL) has cautioned that no Bill which may threaten the political integrity and governance in the state should be tabled in the ongoing State Assembly.

A press release issued by KIL publicity secretary L Shanta stated that The Manipur (Hills Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021 should not be tabled in the Assembly.

In case proposed legislation is placed in the House or enacted then intense agitations would be launched along with CSOs, the secretary cautioned.

It also observed that the said Bill Will strain the age-old bond between the hills and valley and lead to disintegration of the state on ethnic lines.

As contents of the Bill have the potential to create parallel administration in the same state KIL will initiate all possible measures to ensure that devilish agenda never materialises, the release maintained.

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