ZCOs denounce election of eight MLAs into HAC; seek Governor’s intervention

Dimapur, Sep. 5 (EMN): The Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (ZCOs) — Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students Union of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland — have denounced the Manipur Speaker’s order (Manipur Legislative Assembly) inducting eight MLAs of Manipur valley areas representing different unreserved Assembly Constituencies into the Hills Areas Committee (HAC) on Sep. 1.

An update informed that the MLAs are Lourembam Rameshwar Meetei (MLA6-Keirao A/C), Khumukcham Joykisan Singh (MLA 9-Thangmeiban A/C), Karam Shyam (MLA, 20-Langthabal A/C), Nameirakpam Loken Singh (MLA, 24-Nambol A/C), Laishram Radhakishor Singh (MLA, 25-Oinam A/C), Y Anas Khan (MLA, 30-Lilong A/C), Keisham Meghachandra Singh (MLA, 32-Wangkhem A/C), Thokchom Radheshyam Singh (MLA, 33-Heirok A/C).

The Speaker’s order further mentioned that MLA, 8-Lamlai A/C will also be member of the HAC, when election is held and vacant seat is filled up so that the total memberships of the Hills Areas Committee (HAC) shall be 29 (twenty nine) Members with addition of 9 (nine) Members, it stated.

“However, the order is bereft of legal justification and simultaneously supersedes the President’s Order, 1972 and clearly reflects the ill motive of the Manipur govt., its attempt to infringe the constitutional safeguard and protection enshrined in the Constitution of India for the hills people”, it claimed.

“It is pertinent to note that the President of India V V Giri Orders issued in 1972 clearly mentioned that the CM and Speaker shall not be members of the Hills Areas Committee (HAC). The Constitution of Hills Areas Committee under the Article 371C was enacted by an act of Parliament and the same was issued under the executive order of the President of India 1972, which is a statutory body under the Constitution of India. So far, neither the Parliament has amended the Article 371C nor the President of India has issued any executive order replacing the said act”, it read.

Stating that the Speaker’s Orders is undue interference, arbitrary, infringement and an act of dictatorship, which deserves serious penalty, it said that although the Speaker is the custodian of the democratic institution, it is duty of the Speaker to uphold the functioning of the Legislature and other statutory body related with the Manipur Legislative Assembly and to fulfil the constitutional obligations of those statutory body as well. 

Moreover, the ZCOs hailed those responsible and sensible MLAs who have withdrawn their memberships from HAC, knowing well of the legal invalidity, which shows the Speaker’s Orders is neither acceptable nor legally tenable.

On the other hand, the secretary to Manipur Legislative Assembly issued an Order on Sep. 4, which has only been “kept in abeyance” and is nothing but a time buying tactic, which is not acceptable to the hills people of Manipur, it said.

“The people of the state (Manipur) were hopeful that the new govt. may usher peace and harmony, when the new govt. led by BJP party come to power. However, without completion of even one full term the BJP-led govt. under the leadership of N Biren Singh have resorted to policies which have hurt the sentiment and interest of the people particularly the Hills people. We therefore, urge the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly to strictly adhere to the rule of law and the govt. of Manipur to realise that the priority of the govt. is to bring development and progress with trust and confidence among the citizens. We appeal to the Governor, who is the guardian of the Constitution to intervene into the matter and ensure that such unacceptable and legally untenable Orders is never issued in the future”, it added.