DP. Panmei, president of AMTU and former minister said that he met the Manipur Governor and highlighted the current impasse today.
Elaborating over the meeting with the Governor, D.P Panmei said that the blockade has completely pushed upside down the economic conditions of the entire people of the state.The hill people raised the issue of suppression of the rights of the tribal since 3 to 4 decades back amid repeated demands and pressures but with no result till date, the former minister said. D.P Panmei alleged that crores of rupees meant for the development of the tribal areas have been diverted to the valley areas depriving the due shares of the tribals in the state. He further accused the Manipur government that it does not care for the development of the hills inhabited by the tribals.
"The questioned of extending Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in hills, so-called Autonomous District Councils (ADC) has been completely sidelined and imposed ADC elections under Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (3rd Amendment) Act, 2008 against the wishes of the tribal people and infringed the rights of the tribal people," Panmei fumes.
He then apprised the Governor that `Manipur ruled by the majority community has forcibly imposed ADC elections, 2010 under the controversial Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Act, 2008 against the desire of the tribal people which will do no good to the entire people of the state in the long run as the consequences may prove disastrous and beyond control.`
The AMTU president then contended that under the present set-up of Manipur government 100 point roster system in regard to employment of tribals, it has only shown in paper and not in action.
He asserted that the tribal people may no longer live under the present suppressive rule of majority community dominated government as majority prevails in democracy. It is better to rectify the present political scenario before it is too late, he added.
D.P Panmei also suggested that the people living in the hills occupying 9/10 of the Manipur area-22,327 sq.km should be given autonomy to rule themselves and prosper for the centuries to come otherwise the long neglected tribal people living in the hills would never come up at par with other advancing world.