Tribal student bodies to continue stir
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, November 23 2021: Joint tribal student bodies of Manipur have called for cooperation from all in the fight for rights of the tribals, while asserting that the agitation will continue until their demands are honoured.

SR Andria, general secretary ATSUM, during a press conference, expressed gratitude to all like-minded citizens of the state who stood up for the rights of the tribals by extending their cooperation.

Mention may be made here that All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) together with All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students' Organisation, General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) and federating units of ATSUM, has been enforcing indefinite economic blockade since midnight of November 21, demanding that a special session oi the Manipur Legislative Assembly be convened so as to table the HAC recommended Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021 for discussion and enactment as law.

The recommended ADC Bill, 2021 of the HAC is said to be primarily for bringing equitable development in the state, strengthening and empowering the existing ADC in the hills with no section to disintegrate the state geographically in any manner.

In this regard, the ATSUM and other tribal student bodies appealed to the CSOs of the valley stating that the movement is rather to integrate the whole state as the bill would ensure equitable development between the hills and valley and urged all to extend their support.

The Autonomous District Council Act, 1971 is stated to be purely a Parliament Act and the claim that the state legislators cannot repealed it is false which misguides the public, the general secretary pointed out.

The state government had amended the Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Act, 1971 from time to time under Manipur (Adaptation of laws) prder, 1972 after the state attained its statehood in 1972.Not only that, the state government had also repealed the Act in 2000 and in 2008, the ATSUM leader said and termed it unfortunate the claim that the state government cannot repeal an Act passed by the Parliament.

SR Andria appealed to all the people of the state to acknowledge the reality while asking the state government not to mislead the populace but to turn the reality into an act.

The movement within the ambit of the Indian constitution and nothing beyond it, he asserted.

While seeking support from all, the student leader urged the government to convene a special assembly session to table the bill at the earliest for equitable development in the hills and valley.

The ATSUM general secretary regretted that they are certain individuals who are instigated by few vested interests to mislead and divide the people of the state over the movement.

He said that few individuals have recently identified some tribal legislators and targeted them and urged the state government to identify the culprits and initiate appropriate legal action against them.

The tribal student bodies strongly condemned such uncivilised act of shutting down a business establishment belonging to a tribal legislator for supporting the Bill, and asked all not to create communal divide.

Paotinthang Lupheng, president ATSUM, termed the clarification issued by the 6 ADC caretaker chairmen as unfortunate when the tribal student bodies have been fighting for rights of the tribal.

The student leader lamented that they ought to give their full support including financial support.

However, such clarification made to the chief minister shows that they are agents of the government, adding that 'puppets' should not be elected in future.

The president further announced that the agitation and blockade would continue.

AC Thotso, general Secretary ANSAM, stated that the movement concerns about ensuring social and economic development of the state tribal under the permissible ambit of the constitution of India.

Maintaining that the Bill mainly concerns about the tribal and for the state in general, the ANSAM general secretary expressed displeasure over different unfounded allegations and misleading statements published in several media where some vested interests had maligned the hill legislators with communal tones and derogatory remarks.

He appealed to the general populace of the state to extend their cooperation for securing the rights of the tribal in the state.

Thotso also urged the state government to do the needful, not with use of military might along the highway to suppress the movement.

He continued that they are not doing anything that is threatening the state's security but only demanding and calling the attention of the state government with several rounds of democratic agitation with no option left.

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