The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) today resolved to socially boycott the chief minister and the speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly and has announced non-cooperation movement against the state government till the fulfilment of all the demands put forth by the student body.
TKS, the apex Tangkhul student body said it has taken serious exception to the series of anti-tribal policies of Biren-led BJP government.
It maintained, “Observing that the real threat to tribal existence, identity, land and culture is the State Government itself, the student body consequently in no uncertain term warns of all out civil movement for separate statehood of the hills if the situation so compels.”
TKS further pointed out that it is fully well aware of the “aggressive territorial pursuit” of the state government targeting the Hill Areas through “legislative fraud” such as the Manipur International University Act, 2021 and now the newly introduced Manipur Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Bill, 2021.
Reminding that there is no government Khas land in the Hill Areas of Manipur; the ownership of land situated in the hill villages of Manipur vests in the villagers themselves; and that the tribals within the state do not hold their land under the pleasure of the state government as also being recently approved by the High Court of Manipur itself in N. Lokho vs. state of Manipur and C. Wungam vs. Union of India, the apex student body said.
TKS in conclusion, demanded immediate revocation of the impugned Order No. 5/11/(2)/2021-LA (Secy) of September 1 issued by the speaker, Manipur, and timely tabling of the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021 as provided under Paragraph 2 of the Third Schedule to the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
