Newmai News Network
Imphal | October 19
The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM), the apex tribal students’ organization of the state, is in agitation mood/mode "as there are no visible measures coming forth from the state government" to conduct election to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) on time.
The ATSUM said it would be compelled to resort to drastic forms of agitation if the state government does not pay any heed to the demand of the tribal students’ body.
The ATSUM memorandum submitted to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, which was made available to Newmai News Network on Monday, laid down few points of resentment over the delay in announcing date of election of 6 Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) of Manipur.
With the incumbent term of office of 6 ADCs (i.e. 2015-2020) nearing its expiry, the ATSUM said that the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), Manipur “for reasons best known to them had deliberately misinterpreted ‘rainy season’ as administrative difficulty and recommended the Manipur State government for deferment of ADC election preferably in the month of November 2020.”
It however stated that the four chairmen of 4 ADCs namely ADC Chandel, ADC Ukhrul, ADC Kangpokpi and ADC Tamenglong, urged the HAC and the state government to extend the terms of office of all members of 6 ADCs by another 6 months starting from December 1, 2020 till May 31, 2021 citing “harvesting and COVID-19” as reasons for extension.
“This move of the 4 ADC chairmen is a selfish act to meet their self whim and to deprive the tribal populace of their constitutional franchise rights,” the ATSUM said.
With the ADCs’ terms set to expire on November 30, the union asked the Government of Manipur to respect the proposal and recommendation of HAC to hold election on time and adhere to the state government order for holding of ADC election in the intervening month of October and November 2020.”
It asked the Chief Minister to dissolve the term of office of the incumbent members of ADCs of Manipur and pave way for timely conduct of fresh election failing which the union would be compelled to agitate.
