The All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) on Saturday called a 24-hour total bandh in all hill districts of the state with effect from midnight of August 22, voicing strong resentment against the state government for non-tabling of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 at the ongoing assembly session.
The decision to call the bandh was taken during ATSUM’s special assembly session held at Amity hall Adimjati complex, Imphal.
Briefing the media, ATSUM general secretary Andria said the bandh has been called "to express resentment against the state government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021".
The bill must be placed and discussed on the floor of the ongoing assembly session, and it is the rightful duty of the members of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) to demonstrate their grievances if it is not discussed, he said.
"The state government must place in the public domain an explanation on why it should not be placed in the ongoing assembly session," Andria said.
As per the provision of Article 371 C, the HAC can recommend the Autonomous District Councils Bill. However, it is unfortunate to learn that the state government is hesitating to table the bill in the ongoing assembly session, he added.
Andria added that as per the order of HAC in the year 1972, constituting and conferring power to the Autonomous District Council is the scheduled matter of HAC.
The Autonomous District Council bill, if implemented, will be for the peaceful co-existence of people in Manipur and to bring equal development for all. He said that representatives of the All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) general headquarter and other federating units of ATSUM were present at the special assembly session, he added.
During ATSUM’s assembly session, Paotinthang Lupheng was elected as the new president of the union.
