TKS-TNWL demands

 

Demand for revocation of new HAC membership grows stronger

(TKS ; TNWL have strongly condemned and denounced the induction of nine MLAs from the valley in the Hill Areas Committee )

HungHao/The Dawn Tantak

UKHRUL,Sep'6,021:  VARIED tribal groups in Manipur, including the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), a student body in Ukhrul, and the Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL), have strongly condemned the induction of nine MLAs from the valley in the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) and denounced it. Saying that the government’s action is in violation of the constitutional rights of the hill people under Article 371 (C), they announced “non-cooperation” to the state government.

Announcing a “non-cooperation” movement against the Biren-led government for its series of alleged “anti-tribal policies”, the TKS pointed out in a release that the real threat to tribal existence, identity, land and culture is the state government itself. It warned of an all-out civil movement for a separate statehood of the hills if the situation compels.

The TKS release was issued by its president Shimri Raising and general secretary Yuimi Vashum.
AThe student body stated that it is also 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 and Facilitation) Bill, 2021,” it added.

There is no government Khas land in the Hill Areas of Manipur, it stated, adding that the ownership of land situated in the hill villages of Manipur vests in the villagers themselves.

The student body demanded immediate revocation of the impugned Order No. 5/11/(2)/2021-LA(Secy) dated September 1, 2021 issued by the speaker and timely tabling of the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas)  Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021 as provided under paragraph two of the Third Schedule to the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 and Rule 12A of the Rules of Business of the Government of Manipur, 1972.

Meanwhile, the Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL), Ukhrul also demanded to revoke the induction of nine new MLAs to the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), while threatening to boycott any activities related with the government of Manipur unless the demand is fulfilled.

It stated that the induction of nine new MLAs from the valley to the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) is not only violating the constitutional rights of the Hill Areas under Article 371 (c).

Questioning on what basis the valley MLAs are to be inducted in the committee when they are not a party to it, it stated that the organisation will not remain silent as the matter concerns the legitimate rights of the Hill people. Such politics is bound to have disastrous impact in the valley and hill areas relations, it added.

In Churachandpur, locals led by student bodies in the district on Monday welcomed Chief Minister N Biren Singh with black flags and banners as he visited Churachandpur to launch ‘Go to Village Mission 2.0’. The people expressed their resentment and non-cooperation stance against the alleged government's indifferent attitude towards the tribals. The student bodies have on Sunday declared “non-cooperation” movement against the Manipur government until the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) ADC Bill 2021 is passed and the order issued “to include nine valley MLAs in the Hill Areas Committee” by the Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker is revoked.