IMPHAL, January 6 (Newmai News Network): The Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has returned from New Delhi after having got assurance from Central leaders that power will be devolved to the grass root level.
Meanwhile, the IDF has announced to endorse any move of agitation of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) Co-ordination Committee in protest against the state government for not devolving power to them.
“The move of the ADC Co-ordination Committee is bold, prompt and appreciable. We will endorse the ADC members in the event of launching any democratic agitation,” the IDF leaders pledged today.
The IDF leaders then rued that after two years of having had held elections to the Manipur Autonomous District Council (ADC) the state government could not even make it functional till today.
According to IDF leaders, the front is an `apolitical` organization with a sole aim to evolve a system of local self government. They claimed that IDF has been fighting for the decentralization and devolution of power in Manipur since its inception in the year 2008.
It is worth noting here that the Autonomous District Council Coordination Committee, Manipur (ADCC) on Saturday had accused the state Government of Manipur of ignoring the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) making them totally powerless and that the Government is not heeding to the demands of the committee.
Hemjathang Khongsai, secretary, ADCC and Sadar Hills ADC member said that intense agitations like mass strike, bandh and blockade and en masse resignation of ADC members will be the only option of the ADCC if the state Government fails to give any response within a week with regard to its demands while addressing a news conference held at the Council Bhavan, Chingmeirong here.
He said although the Government had conducted the ADC elections in the state after a gap of 20 long years giving an impression to the hill people for a new development and prosperity in various spheres, it has ignored the ADCs making them totally powerless till date. ADCC had submitted a memorandum raising various demands to the Chief Minister on November 10, 2012, but the Chief Minister has not yet given any response to the memorandum till now, he said warning that ADCC will launch various forms of agitations if the Government fails to heed to the representation within a week.