PMRM opposes proposed ADC Bill
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 20 2021: People's Movement for Resurgent Manipur (PMRM) has said that it will stand firm and oppose the proposal by few hill leaders to break apart Manipur.

According to a PMRM statement issued by its publicity secretary Yoihenba Ningthouja, the organisation has been watching every move of sycophant leaders from the hills and their nexus with students' bodies and strorjgly objects to the political blunder committed by members of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) on the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021.In the ADC Bill 2021, there is proposal for making HAC the centripetal power for hill areas of Manipur totally divorced from the Manipur State Legislative Assembly (MSLA).

At the same time, it is ambivalent regarding the nature of the HAC, it said.

Stating that the proposed draft Bill needs to be clear on whether HAC is a local body or a parallel government, the PMRM said that the demand for a chief secretary is unjustified if it is local body.

If it envisions HAC as a parallel body or a separate administrative machinery, it implies that there is the need for a Presidential Order to make it happen, in other words, amend the 1972 Order.

The proposal contradicts the purpose of HAC.

It does not relate to general questions of policy and legislation.

Again, the proposal for Hill Secretariat amounts to obliteration of the Department of Tribal Affairs & Hills.

It needs another amendment either in the Rules of Business or structure of administration of Manipur, the statement pointed out.

The proposal for bringing Hill House Tax under the purview of ADC demands the need for amending the Manipur Hill Areas (House Tax) Act, second amendment Act 2003.Apart from this, the proposed Bill envisions a radical change in terms of functioning, for example, a parallel hill government though it continues to use the word 'local body' and more autonomy to ADC, it raises issues of amending a host of prevailing Acts and Order.

Therefore, MSLA is not the competent authority at the moment to introduce the proposed Bill.

Following Article 5 of the Fourth Schedule of the 1972 Order, sending the proposed Bill to the Governor would be the most sensible option, the PMRM opined.

On the reported remark made by HAC members headed by Leishiyo Keishing that the HAC Act 1972 was formed primarily to promote unity between the people of the hills and other areas of the state, the PMRM asked what steps these leaders took to bring unity among different ethnic communities or what significant developments or campaigns have these HAC members done for the valley people if the very foundation of HAC was to endeavour unity and development of the state.

It further said that hiring some students' organisations and imposing total shutdown in the hills exposes the power-hungry intentions of these leaders.

It further asked as to why HAC members are misguiding innocent people of the hills.

According to the PMRM statement, politicians like Leishiyo Keishing and Alfred Kanngam Arthur have formulated the proposed Bill with the sole intention of wooing voters in the hills and their ego to regain power led to this controversial ADC Bill.

They have even started their election campaign using this Bill, PMRM alleged, while adding that these leaders knew well that the Bill won't be passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly since its adoption is not within the power of Assembly.

Despite all these facts, why they demand the Bill to be tabled in the last hour of the government, the PMRM asked, while adding they are spreading lies and propaganda and inciting hatred for the present government among the hill brethren.

The real motive of bringing ADC Bill was that present government has utilised funds meant for development of the hills.

However, their hollow propaganda has been busted and it was crystal clear that more than 40 percent of the budget have been allocated in the hills alone.

Just to remain in power and get votes by misleading voters and future generation, these MLAs are misinterpreting the Hill Areas Committee Act of 1971.They are hiding the real motives of Centre and the State Legislative Assembly for the sole purpose of HAC Act.

It is clearly mentioned that HAC Act is a recommending body, not an executive body.

Like every Act, this Act is a standing committee of Manipur State Assembly.

HAC members are hiding that this very Act is similar to any Public Account Committee (PAC) in the state assembly or both the Houses of the Parliament.

HAC was given a Constitutional protection and nothing more than a mere PAC in the state assembly.

Why then, HAC members and few politicians are spreading lies and propaganda against the government, the PMRM questions further.

PMRM then thanked every section of the people in the hills who strongly stood against the total shutdown called by ATSUM.

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