TNL asks Tangkhul MLAs to make their position clear
Many more reject HAC recommendation
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, October 23 2024: A recent Hill Area Committee recommendation to the State Government to form committees for temporary administration of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) continues to draw flaks from various sections including the Tangkhul Naga Long and the Naga Lawyers' Association.

While the Naga Lawyers' Association has urged the Governor to intervene and set aside formation of any such committees, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has outrightly rejected the recommendation and asked Tangkhul MLAs to make their position clear on "whether they are party to it" .

The HAC made the recommendation to the State Government on October 14, following a Gauhati High Court ruling to nullify the system of caretaker Chairmanship of Autonomous District Councils.

TNL asks Tangkhul MLAs to make their position clear

The recommendation calls for temporary administrative arrangements for the ADCs, proposing the establishment of a Committee composed of 20 members for each ADC until elections are conducted.

The recommendation suggested that 18 members should be selected from former ADC Members, experts in local self-Government, or other eminent persons and intellectuals, while two members would be Government nominees in the respective districts.

Addressing a press conference held at the TNL office at Viewland, Ukhrul, its president Sword Vashum slammed HAC Chairman, Dinganglung Gangmei, and said he must be held responsible for "betraying the tribal communities of the State" .

Sword Vashum termed the proposed committees unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Without elections, the hills were left without a robust local self-Government and ADCs were left in the hands of the caretaker Chairmen, which was unconstitutional, he said.

The Tangkhul community strongly opposes the recommendation of the HAC, he said, and questioned the credibility of the three Tangkhul MLAs in the HAC.

"The Tangkhul MLAs must come out with a position on whether they are a part of the HAC resolution.

If they are not part of it, then the three MLAs must issue their clarification publicly and dissociate from the HAC immediately or face the music," said the TNL president.

Sword also urged the Chief Minister to withdraw a Cabinet decision taken on June 13 recently which formed the basis for the HAC's recommendation.

The Cabinet decision undermines the foundation of democracy, he added.

Many frontal Tangkhul organisation leaders including TKS president Ramreichan, TMNL president Themaso, TNWL and TSL have also criticised the HAC recommendation.

They said the recommendation violates the Constitutional rights of tribal people.

In a separate press conference held at Hamleikhong, Ukhrul, the District Congress Committee (DCC) has also denounced the HAC recommendation.

Churchill Varu, general secretary DCC, Ukhrul, expressed strong opposition against the resolution and said, "It is an insult to the hill people" .

"The hill people of Manipur have come to understand that BJP is anti hill people, anti tribals and anti communal harmony, and it has deliberately chosen not to conduct ADC elections for the last 4 years.

The party is trying to destroy the grass-root democracy of the hills of Manipur," Varu said.

The Congress party will approach the Court, he added.

In a statement, the Naga Lawyers' Association, Manipur said the Governor must exercise special powers and intervene in the matter.

The unconstitutional HAC resolution must be set aside in the interest of justice, fairness and adherence to rule of law.

Elections to the ADCs should be conducted timely.

Any selection or appointment of a governing body that undermines democratic process erodes public confidence in the Government, said lawyers' association.

The Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) too has rejected the HAC recommendation and urged the Governor to intervene.

It warned the Government of democratic agitations if the recommendation is not rejected.