Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 31:
The Cabinet has decided to discuss the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council Bill, 2008 with members of the Hills Area Committee tomorrow, pending a discussion of the said Bill in the one day Assembly session scheduled for April 3 .
The decision to discuss the Bill tomorrow was taken during a meeting of the Cabinet held today evening, said a source and added that the Cabinet minutely discussed the details of the Bill with some pointing out certain loopholes.
The Cabinet thoroughly discussed whether the Bill should be withdrawn from the House or a fresh one drafted, said the source.
Significantly, the Speaker of the Assembly had earlier referred the Bill to a Select Committee, prompting the hill MLAs to stage a walk out during the Budget session recently.
After the Select Committee submitted its report, the same was referred to the HAC for their approval.
Meanwhile a public consultation meeting held today at Kuki Inn here has flatly rejected the report of the Select Committee on the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council Bill 2008 that was placed before the State Assembly on March 19, conveyed an ATSUM release.
Members present in the meeting also expressed indignation over alleged infringement upon rights of hill peoples by the State Assembly.
In case justice is not done when the matter is tabled again in the House on April 3, ATSUM will not hesitate to launch a mass tribal movement, it warned.