ATSUM accuses Manipur CM of politicising ADC Bill issue

ATSUM said that the remark of the CM was a ploy to mislead the people of the state and foster further misunderstanding between the hills and the valley.

The All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday termed Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s alleged stand that the ADC Bill 2021 would disintegrate Manipur as an attempt on the part of the former to politicize the tribal movement and further deprive the tribals of their constitutional rights.

The ATSUM added that the remark of the chief minister was a ploy to mislead the people of the state and foster further misunderstanding between the hills and the valley.

The ATSUM release added that there is nothing as such in the contents of the bill that aims to disintegrate the state but autonomy and equitable development for the hill areas as envisaged in Article 371 C of the Constitution is a must.

The ADC Bill, 2021, the ATSUM said provides for a Hill Secretariat to oversee the administration of the ADCs headed by an officer, not below the rank of chief secretary but it does not mean that there shall be a “Separate State Secretariat” for the hill areas to be headed by a chief secretary.

‘Two secretariats” or “two chief secretaries’ as alleged by some sections is just a figment of imagination, the ATSUM said.

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