ATSUM to go ahead with 24-hour shutdown as talk fails with CM

Senapati: The proposed 24-hour total shutdown in all hill districts of Manipur called by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSUM) will be enforced effective from midnight of November 19. This decision was taken after a joint meeting with chief minister and the hill student leaders after it failed to bring concrete solution during the meeting.

In a press communiqué issued by Khaiminlen Doungel, Information & Publicity Secretary, ATSUM, it stated that an official discussion between the state govt and ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO-GHQ and ATSUM federating units was held at chief minister’s office on Friday at 12 noon in the presence of chief minister to discuss the HAC recommended “Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021 on receipt of meeting invitation from the state govt. The positions of both the parties were reportedly stated in the meeting but could not find any agreeable solution during the said meeting. Therefore, the announced agitations of the student bodies will go ahead as scheduled for 24-hour total shutdown with effect from November 19 midnightin all hill districts of Manipur.

Also read: ZSF, TSA, JTSA not to endorse ATSUM’s 24-hour shutdown call on November 20 over ADC Bill 2021

The relentless effort of the state govt to misguide the public by constantly claiming that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971 is a Parliament Act and cannot be repealed by the state Legislative Assembly is unfortunate, Khaiminlen stated. The Manipur Gazette (Extraordinary) published by the Secretariat: Law and Legislative Affairs, Govt of Manipur, dated the 27th October, 2008 clearly stated that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971 has continued to be enforced in the state of Manipur with necessary adaptations under the Manipur (Adaptation of Laws) Order, 1972. Accordingly, the Manipur Legislative Assembly had repealed the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971 in the year 2000 by enacting the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 2000 (Manipur Act No. 11 of 2000).

Corresponding upon the precedent of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971 being repealed in the year, 2000 and the rule of law, the state govt should stop misleading the public immediately and convene Special Legislative Assembly to table the HAC Recommended Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021, it asked. The Information & Publicity Secretary also appealed every right thinking populace of the state to support the movement which aims to consolidate fraternity among all communities of the state.

Different student bodies of the hill districts have extended their support to the proposed agitation including Senapati District Student Association (SDSA) and Tangkhul Katamnao Long (TKS).

Since the meeting with govt of Manipur failed to break the ice on issues of ADC Bill 2021, the office of the SDSA has said it endorse the proposed 24-hour shutdown called by ATSUM in all the hill districts of Manipur from midnight of November 19 till November 20, Saturday midnight.

Therefore, the proposed shutdown will be effective in Senapati district. The office of SDSA has appeal to the general public to support and co-operate.

“Ukhrul district will go into complete shutdown. TKS endorse ATSUM’s 24-hour shutdown”, confirmed the general secretary of TKS.