Imphal, November 19 (NNN): The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) on friday evening announced to go ahead with the 24 hour “total shutdown” in the hill districts of Manipur on November 20.
In a press release, ATSUM said, ‘On receipt of meeting invitation from the state government, an official discussion between state government and ATSUM, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students' Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) and ATSUM federating units was held today (November 20) at the Chief Minister's Office at 12 noon in the presence of the Chief Minister to discuss the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) recommended Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill 2021.’
The students' body said that the positions of both the parties were stated in the meeting, but could not find any agreeable solution. “Therefore, the announced agitations will go ahead as scheduled — 24 hrs total shutdown on 20th November 2021 (Saturday) in the hill districts and indefinite economic blockade along the national highways from November 22, 2021,” it added.
ATSUM said that the “relentless” effort of the state government to misguide the public by “constantly claiming that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 is a Parliament Act and cannot be repealed by the state Legislative Assembly is unfortunate”. The tribal students' body further said that the Manipur Gazette (Extraordinary) published by the Secretariat: Law and Legislative Affairs, Government of Manipur dated October 27, 2008 clearly stated that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 has continued to be in force in the state of Manipur with necessary adaptations under the Manipur (Adaptation of Laws) Order, 1972. Accordingly, the Manipur Legislative Assembly had repealed the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 in the year 2000 by enacting the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act, 2000 ( Manipur Act No. 11 of 2000), it added.
It stated that, “Corresponding upon the precedent of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act 1971 being repealed in the year 2000 and the rule of law, the state government should stop misleading the public immediately and convene Special Legislative Assembly to table the HAC recommended Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill 2021”.
ATSUM has appealed every right thinking populace of the state to support the movement which aims to consolidate fraternity among all communities of the state.
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