Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) today condemned the state government in contemplating to delay the Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections.
Addressing a press conference today at Manipur Press Club, General Secretary, COPTAM, Thangkam Lupheng said that the government of Manipur is contemplating to postpone the upcoming election of the six ADCs in hill areas of Manipur which is supposed to be held in the month of June, 2015. He said that the delay is totally against the interest of the Hill tribal people of Manipur and it shall be taken as a plan to deprive the hill tribal people of their constitutional rights and privileges. He added that the ADCs were defunct for many years and revived after 22 years. There were so much of hopes to the revival of the ADCs that it would certainly help in administration and development of the hill areas of Manipur. Since the ADCs were created for administration and development of the hill areas, it should be given full anatomy and powers as provided by the Hill Areas Committee under Article 375 (C) of the Indian Constitution, added Thangkam Lupheng.
