The entire hill districts of Manipur is under 12-hour total shutdown called by the All Manipur Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) from 5 am to 5 pm on Saturday (December 18).
The ATSUM stated in a release on Thursday that the shutdown has been called to demand the introduction of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) recommended ADC Bill 2021 in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The shutdown call is spearheaded by the ATSUM, the Kuki Students Organisation general headquarter and the All Naga Students Association Manipur.
Also Read: Absence of a legal position
Expressing solidarity, several tribal student organisations in Manipur, including NSUC and Zillai Chutachandpur, stated in a release on Friday that they endorsed the total shutdown called by ATSUM in all hill districts of Manipur on Saturday.
The student unions sought cooperation and support from every responsible citizen to frontal organisations, village authorities, women societies, youth clubs and churches to the shutdown call in all hill districts.
Also Read: HAC and ADC Bill 2021: What does the Speaker say?
The release by ATSUM also stated that the Manipur tribals in Delhi under the aegis of Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi will also be organising a mass protest rally on December 18 in support of the collective tribal movement spearheaded by ATSUM, the KSO general headquarter and the All Naga Students Association Manipur.
While reiterating its demand for tabling of the HAC recommended ADC Bill 2021 in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, ATSUM appeals to all and sundry to support the ADC bill movement till the demand is fulfilled.
Any incoveniences caused due to the total shutdown called for assertion of constitutional rights of the hill tribal people in Manipur, is deeply regretted, stated the release issued by ATSUM on Thursday.
