Tangkhul bodies to boycott CM Biren's Ukhrul visit
Source: Chronicle News Service / Lester R Makang
Ukhrul, December 19 2021:
Ahead of the planned inauguration of different projects at LM Block, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) and its constituent units in western Ukhrul have announced boycott of CM Biren Singh's proposed visit to the district on December 20 .
In a press communique, TKS stated that in line with its previous stand vide press communique of September 5, it reiterated its boycott of the government till fulfilment of all the demands put forth by the students' body i.e, tabling of the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021 before the State Legislative Assembly.
The statement said that instead of addressing the standing demand of the tribal students' body, the government's decision to inaugurate the Lungchong Maiphai Block HQ on the December 20, is highly insensitive and the same is unacceptable.
"It is therefore, the decision of the Saklong to boycott any activities of the government led by chief minister N Biren in Ukhrul district including the Lungchong Maiphai Block HQ inauguration programme on December 20," it said.
Along the same line, Zingtun Tangkhul Katamnao Long (ZTKL), a constituent unit of TKS, declared its boycott of the proposed visit of CM Biren to LM Block on December 20 and called for all village units to refrain from extending any support to the government.
Teinem Katamnao Long (TKL) also announced a similar stand to boycott the proposed inauguration of the new projects at LM Block.
TKL is a village-level unit of ZTKL.
CM Biren is reportedly scheduled to inaugurate the Sadbhavna Mandap, Bank and Police Station at LM Block, situated in between Teinem and Phalee villages, about 24 km from Ukhrul district headquarters on Monday.
Earlier on September 5, TKS had resolved to socially boycott the chief minister and the Speaker and announced non-cooperation movement against the state government till the fulfilment of all the demands put forth by the student body, accusing Biren-led BJP Government of anti-tribal.
"Observing that the real threat to tribal existence, identity, land and culture is the state government itself, the students' body consequently in no uncertain term warns of all out civil movement for separate statehood of the hills if the situation so compels," it said.
The district's apex students' body stated that it is fully aware of the aggressive territorial pursuit of the state government targeting the Hill Areas through legislative fraud such as the Manipur International University Act, 2021 and now the newly introduced Manipur Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Bill, 2021."There is no government Khas land in the Hill Areas of Manipur; the ownership of land situated in the hill villages of Manipur vests in the villagers themselves; and that the tribals within the state do not hold their land under the pleasure of the state government as also being recently approved by the High Court of Manipur itself in N Lokho vs State of Manipur and C Wungam vs Union of India," it reminded.
The students' body had demanded immediate revocation of the impugned Order No.5/11/(2)/2021-LA(Secy) dated 01.09.2021 issued by the Speaker, Manipur and timely tabling of the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021 as provided under Paragraph 2 of the Third Schedule to the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 and Rule 12A of the Rules of Business of the Government of Manipur, 1972 .
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