HAC issue: Tribal organisations stick to demand
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN

Imphal, September 08 2021: Tribal organisations are continuing to condemn and demand the state government to table the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council (ADC) Bill, 2021 and withdraw the September 1 order of Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker inducting valley-based MLAs as members of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC).

A consultative meeting of tribal student organisations was held at Chandel district headquarters on Wednesday which resolved to endorse the demand of All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) for convening a Manipur Legislative Assembly special sessionto discuss the ADC Bill, 2021 recommended by HAC.

ATSUM leaders informed Newmai News Network on Wednesday evening that the meeting also demanded "immediate rescind of the Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker's order for induction of eight MLAs from assembly constituencies of unscheduled areas as members of HAC dated September 1" .

ATSUM, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students' Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ), CNPO, NCAC, NSUC and NWUC participated in the consultative meeting.

Meanwhile, Zeliangrong Union (ZU) Assam, Manipur & Nagaland, while hailing the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat for withdrawal of its September 1 order on Wednesday, has cautioned the state government to be aware of the consequences and not to repeat it again as it may hamper the relationship of hills and valley.

In a release, ZU AMN Media Cell stated that it condemns the appointment of nine valley MLAs by the speaker as members of HAC which against the interest of the tribal people and violates the Article 371C .

This act is openly subjugating the right of tribal people, which will sow the seed of disharmony in the state, it added.

ZU AMN also expressed their resentment over the non-tabling of proposed ADC Bill, 2021 in the last Assembly session.

It will not be a mute spectator if situation arises and will endorse the decision of the tribal CSOs or tribal bodies for the cause of the tribal people, the ZU asserted.

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