LAMKA, OCTOBER 27 (MExN): The Kuki-Zo Council has voiced strong opposition to the Manipur Government's recent decision to establish 'adhoc committees' for the six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), viewing it as a significant threat to democratic principles and the autonomy of these councils.
In a press statement issued by Information Secretary Khaikhohauh Gangte, the council condemned the move, arguing that it undermines the powers granted to elected representatives by the people. The Kuki-Zo Council believed that this decision erodes the foundational principles of the ADCs and contradicts the spirit of decentralization and self-governance.
The council highlighted that the resolution passed by the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) on October 14, 2024, is in direct violation of the District Councils Act of 1971 and its accompanying rules. It asserted that the government's actions appear to be an attempt to diminish the powers and functions of the constitutionally established ADCs in Manipur.
Furthermore, the Kuki-Zo Council termed the government's recent moves as a calculated effort to stifle the political and democratic rights of the tribal population, raising concerns about the intentions of the governing body.
The council emphasized that the HAC resolution is undemocratic, noting that the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs were not consulted during its deliberation. This lack of inclusion has sparked significant dissent against the controversial resolution.
Since the unrest that began on May 3, 2023, the Kuki-Zo community has expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of achieving justice under the current administration. It had articulated a clear political demand to the Government of India: the establishment of a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory with its own legislature. It believed that state-sponsored violence has made peaceful coexistence within the existing framework of Manipur unfeasible.
The Kuki-Zo Council vowed to boycott any ADC elections or selections of committee members imposed on them unless their demand for a separate Union Territory with legislative powers is met.
