ATSUM urges Govt to announce Assembly date
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, November 30 2021: Imploring the state government to announce the dates for the Winter Session of the state assembly, All Tribal Students' Union (ATSUM) has urged not to repeat the history of disappointing the tribals and conveniently ignoring and dismissing the tribal legitimate rights.

The students' body, in a joint meeting with KSO-GHQ, ANSAM and its federation units on Tuesday, resolved that the state government shall be held accountable for the resumption of its suspended agitation in the event of breach of the signed agreement by the state government.

It also said that failure on the part of the government to fulfil its assurance would be regarded as befooling the tribal population in the state of Manipur once again and urged the government not to undermine legitimate rights of the tribal people.

ATSUM stated that it fully endorsed the Hill Areas Committee Resolution (No 47/2021-(HAC) taken on the November 29,2021 with regard to the Manipur (HOI Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021.The student body's information and publicity secretary, Khaiminlen Doungel stated that the state government is reminded of the past precedent that in August of 2015, an Emergency Session was called and the controversial three Bills were introduced and passed in three days, while adding that the present Bill recommended by the Hill Areas Committee aims to improve the acute development disparity between the hills and the valley and to improve governance for 41 percent of the population of the state living in 90 percent of the geographical area of Manipur.

He continued that ATSUM, as a representative of the tribal population, will not tolerate the unconstitutional denial of tabling a Bill that aims to usher in equity and equality in the state of Manipur.

The joint meeting also condemned the failure of the state government to translate into action the agreed points of the pact signed between state government and ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO-GHQ representatives on November 25, within the stipulated time.

The sincerity of the state government to resolve the stalemate was strongly questioned in the meeting, it stated while adding that the meeting also resolved that the state government shall be held accountable for the resumption of the suspended agitation in the event of breach of the agreement by the state government.

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