ADC polls will serve no purpose: Leishiyo
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 20 2021: Hill Areas Committee (HAC) Chairman K Leishiyo has asserted that holding elections to the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) would not serve any purpose until the new ADC Bill recommended by the HAC is passed by the State Assembly.

Speaking at a thanksgiving and blessing ceremony held in his honour at Nambashi Horton within Phungyar AC today, K Leishiyo said that there is a huge development disparity between the hills and the valley.

Even though Manipur would be celebrating the golden jubilee of its Statehood Day next year, road infrastructure in the hill districts are pathetic, schools are crippled due to absence of teachers, there is no reliable power supply and hill people are denied their rights, the HAC Chairman alleged.

Tribal people in other States have been already granted all their rights and shares, he added.

He then demanded 6th Schedule if the new ADC Bill is to be rejected.

If the State Government has no funds, seek funds from the Centre and construct roads, Leishiyo urged.

Saying that implementation of welfare schemes and development projects can be done only under certain Acts and rules, the HAC Chairman urged the State Government to pass the proposed ADC Bill.

Reacting to the assurances given by some political parties that the ADC polls would be held after they are elected, Leishiyo maintained that not a single candidate will come forward to contest the ADC election for the Autonomous District Councils survive on grant-in-aid and are not entitled to any budgetary support, remuneration or TA & DA.

ADC elections have been held periodically during the last 50 years and people have realised that those elections did not serve any purpose, Leishiyo said.

He asserted that holding another election would not serve any purpose until and unless the new ADC Bill is passed.

Reacting to the remark that MLAs elected from the hill districts are stationed at Imphal most of the time instead of visiting their respective Assembly segments, Leishiyo said that all the funds are found at Imphal and different departments have been utilising these funds.

Asking if any amount of fund was handed over to the MLAs elected from hill districts, Leishiyo dismissed the allegation of hill MLAs misappropriating funds and building houses at Imphal.

He then questioned the purpose of setting up departments if Government funds are utilised directly by MLAs.

Leishiyo urged all concerned to stop misleading ignorant people.

He further asked as to why the Vigilance Department has been sitting idle if the funds allocated for hill districts have been misappropriated by MLAs.

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