The proposed Tribal Consultative meeting convened by the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) relating to the “Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 recommended by the Hill Areas Committee” was held at Motbung, Kangpokpi district today.
Earlier, the apex tribal student body scheduled the meeting at Amity Hall, Adimjati Complex, Imphal on August 24, 2021 starting from 1 pm onwards. The state Police force reportedly foiled the proposed meeting of the tribal leaders at the time of the meeting.
In a press communiqué issued from the Publicity Wing of the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM), it stated to vehemently condemn the discriminatory act of the state govt for not allowing conduct of the Manipur Tribal Consultative Meeting on the “Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 recommended by the Hill Areas Committee” scheduled to be held at the aforementioned spot.
The desperate act of the state govt revealed its partiality, autocratic and rhetoric nature of governing the state. The state govt which proudly claimed to have administered people oriented and socially tranquil administration in the state failed to keep its advocacy by letting the valley based organizations to convened public meeting on the ADC Bill, 2021 whereas, the tribal organizations were deprived of the same at Imphal, the capital of the state, the statement added.
ATSUM is stated to seriously view the belligerent act of Manipur state police for repeatedly surveying the house of Tribal Student leaders at Imphal. Such act of state police at the behest of the state govt will not find the solution rather, it would escalate the situation, the publicity wing mentioned. The Tribal leaders with the support of tribal populace in the state are stated not to waver nor bow down to any forces trying to suppress the tribal movement as according to the statement issued from the Publicity Wing of the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM).
The meeting was attended by ANSAM, KSO-GHQ, ATSUM Federating Units, Apex Tribal Organizations, District based Apex Organizations, Women Organizations, Students’ Organizations, legal fraternities, Scholars and well wishers.
The meeting unequivocally appreciated the initiatives of the Chairman and Members of the HAC in recommending a historic Bill which sought to empower Autonomous District Councils of the hills under Article 371 (C).
After views of all members were taken into consideration, the meeting unanimously adopted to form a committee under the aegis of ATSUM to shoulder the ADC Bill, 2021 movement and to organise Consultative/Sensitization program on the “The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021” in all Hill districts.
