ATRPFM threatens
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, October 15 2018: The All Tribal Rights Protection Forum Manipur (ATRPFM) has threatened to resort to its own course of action as the election to the Chairman of the Autonomous District Council (ADC), Churachandpur has not been conducted till date by the Manipur Government.

The ATRPFM said today that the State Government continues to be indifferent to all the appeals made in this regard.

According to the tribal rights body, in pursuance of resolution number one adopted by ATRPFM held on October 8, "we submitted a representation for conduct of election of Chairman in respect of Churachandpur ADC on or before October 15, 2018" .

The ATRPFM said that the Governor of Manipur had also written to the Secretary, Tribal Affairs and Hills, Government of Manipur on October 1 for holding election of the Chairman., The tribal rights body said that the Tribal Affairs and Hills had not issued any order in the matter and election had not been held till date in spite of the Governor's direction and repeated "approaches and requests".

The ATRPFM said the welfare schemes to be implemented under ADC cannot be implemented due to non-conduct of election.

"Thus, we have requested again to the Governor, Her Excellency to kindly secure the conduct of election on or before October 15, 2018 by using her discretionary power", the ATRPFM also said adding "Our request with a deadline of October 15, 2018 expired today and we would be compelled to take up our course of action"..

The tribal rights body questioned the State Government as to why the election cannot be conducted till date for the ADC Chairman, Churachandpur "when the election for ADC chairman of Chandel could be conducted within 2-3 days..." .

The ATRPFM then said that such act of the Government is clearly discriminatory, arbitrary and biased against the autonomous body.

"The notification for election of ADC Chairman in respect of Chandel was issued on September 25 and the election was held on September 29 in spite of the fact that there was a bandh on September 26 and 27," said the ATRPFM.

It also said that the election in respect of ADC Churachandpur cannot be conducted even today.

"It is a clear political bias on the part of Hon'ble Chief Minister and his close BJP Ministers, playing politics at the cost of thousands of tribal populace of Churachandpur district," the tribal rights body alleged, adding, "Enough is enough and we won't bow down anymore if the State Government doesn't believe in solving issues in a peaceful manner".

The ATRPFM also said that the Government is not supposed to act only when strikes, bandhs or blockades are affected.

"We want the Government to act before we opt for such imposition", it added.

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