Induction of valley MLA's into HAC
Voice of dissidence against Speaker's order grows louder
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 07 2021: Claiming that the State Government violated Article 371C by issuing an order for inducting 9 MLAs from valley as members of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) on September 1, Outer Lok Sabha MP Dr Lorho S Pfoze has written to President Ramnath Kovind for Central Government intervention.

In a letter addressed to the President, Lorho S Pfoze said that the order of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker which allowed inclusion of 9 MLAs from the valley districts in HAC is ultra-vires and disregarded the Presidential order dated June 20, 1972 .

Saying that action of the Speaker is likely to cause social disharmony, the MP appealed to the President to revoke the Speaker's order for peace, harmony and equal growth of all sections of the State.

The MP further asked the President to advise the Manipur Government to deal with the issue sensitively and diligently.

Meanwhile, many organisations from across the State continued to express strong resentment over the recent Speaker's order pertaining to induction of 9 valley MLAs into the Hill Areas Committee (HAC).

The Rongmei Lu Phuam (RLP) (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland); the Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation, Manipur (RNYOM) and Rongmei Naga Student Organisation (RNSO) too joined in condemning the appointment of valley MLAs by the Speaker as members of the HAC.

The bodies in a joint statement said that the Goernment has failed to demonstrate the better option of honest policy for territorial and emotional solidarity.

The 3rd Amendment Act, 2008 repealed the 2nd Amendment of Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Councils Act, 2000 and the hill MLAs did not oppose the amendment as it tends to address the maximum ingredients of Article 371 (C) except the Judiciary part of the Law (which requires Parliamentary enactment), it said.

To add salt to the wound, the Speaker had recently passed 'unqualified' and 'unauthorized' orders on appointment of new HAC Members, it said.

The SPF Government led by O Ibobi repealed the "Autonomous" law in 2008 before the very nose of the then HAC and as HAC was non functional, much damage was done, it said while questioning as to why HAC speaks up only at the threshold of the end of Assembly term.

The election gimmick is not what the people desire but the real intention and political motive during the prime time, the bodies said.

The State leaders in power are expected to take action against the corrupt representatives and officials of the hills instead of leaving them to their liberty to exhaust all resources at the cost of people's suffering.

Such attitudes will only breed elements of separatist movements, it said.

Expressing rue over the recent budget allocation and the big gap of economy between hills and valley due to decades of lackadaisical attitudes of State leaders in power and non-functioning HAC, the organisations stated that people are no longer satisfied with the policy of hide and seek game which has much bearing to cause undesirable indulgence in anti-social trades and even extortion activities.

While resenting the State leaders who are making "a mockery of the democratic rights of the hill people", the organisations also called upon all to support the movement of the hill people for the redressal of long suppressed grievances.

Naga civil society organisations in chandel resent Speaker's order, to boycott "Go to Hills 2.0"
Naga civil bodies in Chandel viz- CNPO, NCAC, NSUC and NWUC have unanimously decided to boycott the " Go to Hills 2.0" programme initiated by the Manipur Government.

The organisations in a joint statement said that the decision to boycott the programme came as a mark of resentment for not tabling the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 and the order issued by the Speaker regarding inclusion of 9 valley MLAs into the HAC.

The organisations feel that the Government of Manipur has been undermining and manipulating the sentiments and aspirations of the tribal populace due to its simplicity repeatedly.

Thus, the bodies have decided to not cooperate with the Government and to boycott the Go to Hills 2.0 until and unless the HAC Bill 2021 is considered and the order for inclusion of valley MLAs into the HAC is rescinded, it said.

Instructing general public and people of Chandel not to attend or be part of the programme organised by the State Government, the organisations also maintained that any civil organisation extending support and cooperation to the "Go to Hills 2.0" shall be strictly dealt with.

Hill Tribal Council, Moreh and Kuki Chief Association, Moreh Block in a joint statement also condemned the arbitrary decision of the BJP led Government and urged immediate revocation of the Speaker's order appointing valley MLAs into the HAC and timely tabling of the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 .

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