IT News
Imphal, Nov 20:
Unlike in the yesteryears, where vehicular traffic along the National Highways often remain freeze due to bandh called by any of the organization, normal traffic flows as usual today along the NH 37, where the All Tribal Students Union had imposed 24 hour bandh demanding passing of ADC Bill 2021.
In addition to news reports filed from various places along the NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road), video footage showed normal traffic plying on the roads. Goods ferrying trucks, as well as passenger vehicles, were seen plying as usual without any disturbances. Local leaders from Nungba area was heard saying that the bandh called was unreasonable and the people do not support it.
The ATSUM which has been mobilizing to support the bandh called, got a thrashing blow from the people , particularly from different leaders of various communities inhabiting at Hill areas of the state.
Various civil society organizations denounced the bandh called by the ATSUM. The Thadou Students’ Association even terms the ATSUM as pseudo student’s body. ATSUM called the 24 hour bandh on Novemebr 20 demanding to convene special Assembly session for discussion of the proposed draft Manipur Hill Areas Bill submitted by the veto Chairman HAC of Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The Thadou Students’ Association (GHQ) said that the ADC Bill 2021 is political in nature and the TSA said that they find the demand leaving to the KNO/UPF ( for the Kuki group) and the NSCN(IM) (for the Naga Group) who were under Suspension of Operations (SoO) and cease fire with the government of India.
The TSA said that even if the draft bill is introduced forcefully by the government, it is certain that the Bill will never be approved as passed by the Legislative Assembly.
“The demand to put-up the draft bill in the state legislative assembly, is only a mere political vendetta and not the voice of Tribal”, the statement said.
The TSA also said that such act of the ATSUM will only waken up the unawake to ignite and spark communalism between the tribal and non-tribal in the state.
TSA statement said that ATSUM is not the genuine representative of al tribal.
The Joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) (Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei,, Zeme) also strongly denounced the ATSUM’s 24 hour bandh and proposed economic blockade. JTSA is a conglomerate of students’ bodies consisting of the All Inpui Students Union, Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, Rongmei Naga Students Organisations Manipur, and the Zeme Students organization Manipur.
The statement said that while festive season is approaching, every walks of life earning for daily bread, and educational institutions beginning to open after a prolonged lockdown, ATSUM’s total shutdown and economic blockade are deemed unsuitable, untimely, and uncalled for.
