GTH boycott stand upheld, bandh called
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, September 13 2021: All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) held a consultative meeting with the civil society organisations of Senapati district at district headquarters on Monday in connection with the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 recommended by the HAC.

The meeting resolved to urge the state government to convene a special session of the Assembly to table the HAC recommended ADC Bill, 2021 .

The reason for withdrawal of the speaker's order was declared unacceptable as it was not based on the "Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business" in the Manipur Legislative Assembly as per Article 371(C) .

Also, during the meeting, the decision of ATSUM to boycott the state government's "Go to Hills 2.0" programme was endorsed by the district CSOs, declaring that the boycott movement will continue until the HAC recommended ADC Bill, 2021 is tabled and the speaker's order is withdrawn with appropriate reasons.

Earlier, the tribal students' body had organised similar consultative meeting at Ukhrul district headquarters where the district CSOs supported the move in defence of tribal's rights in the state.

Representatives from ATSUM, All Naga Students Association, Manipur, Kuki Students' Organisation-General Headquarters, Naga People's Organization (NPO), Senapati District Women's Association (SDWA), Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) and the federating units of the student body attended the consultative meeting.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations of Senapati district announced a 12-hour total shutdown in the district from midnight of September 14 as the civil bodies in an emergency meeting on Monday decided to fully endorse ATSUM's boycott call for "Go to Hills 2.0 .

The CSOs resolved to boycott the said programme of the chief minister to show their resentment against the state government's indifferent attitude towards the tribal people of the state; against the non-tabling of the ADC Bill, 2021, and Assembly speaker's withdrawal of order.

The CSOs of the district also appealed the general public to cooperate and refrain from participating in the "Go to Hills 2.0" programme slated for September 15 in the district.

They also warned of stringent action against violators of the total shutdown.

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