EMN
Dimapur, July 29
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) today expressed its disappointment over the inordinate delay by government of Manipur over formation of autonomous district councils (ADCs) in the hills districts even after a lapse of nearly two months.
The NPF felt that the State government delayed the formation of councils in Tamenglong and Chandel to lure non-Congress members to cobble up the required number to form the councils.
NPF Secretary General, K.G.Kenye in a memorandum urged Manipur governor to direct the deputy commissioners of Tamenglong and Chandel to complete the process of formation of the councils along with the other hills districts on or before July 31 and to ensure that no horse-trading indulged in any form by any party or individual.
The NPF also demanded that appointment of government nominees to all the councils be based on merit and not political affiliations or any other political or social considerations and that appointments be made by the administrator as empowered by Section IV, Clause (3) of Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 in consultation with the council in power after the council is formed and not by the State government.
The elections to the six autonomous district councils were held on June 1 and the results declared on June 10.
“We are grateful to the State Election machinery for ensuring free and fair polls, and also to the people of the Hills Districts for coming out to exercise their franchise in spite of few anti-social elements issuing threats and intimidations. We were pleased with the verdict of the people and we expected the Councils would be formed, irrespective of which political party or political affiliations would reign, thereby enabling the representatives of the people to assume office in the best interest of the public. Delay in the formation of the democratic bodies in the districts has defeated the very purpose of The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 thereby depriving the people of their Constitutionally-enshrined right to self-governance,” Kenye said.
The memorandum said, even oath-taking ceremony for the elected representatives of the people were delayed unduly, giving rise to speculations in the minds of the people that the present dispensation at the helm of affairs in the State was not very impressed with its own performances at the polls and was searching for unholy means to form Councils of its choice.
“There may have been uncertainties as to who should appoint the Government nominees to the Councils, but it is mystifying as to why or how it could take more than one and half months to find out the answer.
We are of the considered view that delay in the bestowment of power to the elected ADC members shows the Congress Government’s negligence of the hill people and also its sheer disrespect for the democratic rights exercised by the hills people of the State.”
“Furthermore, the whole process of formation of the Councils was supposed to be completed by June 17, but the Congress Government in the State is attempting to strangle the voice of the people, thereby nullifying the very purpose of holding the elections, and came out of its cocoon only 27th night when through its Hills Department, issued a directive to the Deputy Commissioners of four districts to complete the process of the formation of the Councils before July 31,” the memorandum said.
“This knee-jerk reaction of the Government to the paralyzing bandh/ protest organized by the hills people yesterday (July 27, 2015) only raises more questions on the motive and integrity of the Congress Government in the State.”
“This tantamount to desecration of the very spirit of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India and is a political maneuver which, if not nipped in the bud, would have grave political repercussions in the State in the years to come.”
