Kuki-Zo Legislators demand Reversal of HAC recommendations

Imphal: Ten Kuki-Zo legislators of Manipur have submitted a memorandum to governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, demanding the withdrawal of the ‘unconstitutional’ recommendations made during a recent Hill Area Committee (HAC) meeting regarding the Autonomous District Council (ADC), Manipur.

The legislators, who have been demanding for a ‘separate administration’ for Kuki-Zo submitted the memorandum on October 23. The Kuki-Zo legislators, who are also members of the HAC, highlighted their concerns regarding the resolution passed during the HAC meeting related to the ADC.

The resolution states, “In order to run the administration of ADCs, a Committee consisting of a total of 20 members for each ADC shall be constituted, of whom 18 members shall be selected from amongst the former ADC members/experts in Local Self-Government/eminent persons/intellectuals, and two (2) government nominees of the district as a temporary arrangement until the ADC election is conducted.”

The legislators opined that the resolution was “unconstitutional, a mockery of democratic principles, unlawful, unprecedented, arbitrary, divisive, and biased.”

They said the resolution was passed while half of the HAC members from a particular community were unable to attend the HAC meeting or state Assembly sessions due to the unrest in the state since May 3, 2023.

The resolution not only violates the democratic ethos behind local elected bodies but also goes against established norms and exceeds the scope of the ADC Act(s) amended to date, they added.

“This atmosphere of political erraticism and bias justifies our demand for a Union Territory with a legislature, which we reiterate with growing conviction. We urge you to support our political demand, which reflects the strong political aspirations of our people and is the only viable path to peaceful co-existence,” the memorandum said.

The legislators called for prompt intervention to ensure that the Constitution of India and the ADC Act are respected and upheld in the public interest.