The All Tribal Students Union is demanding discussion on the Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Trucks and other commercial vehicles were off the roads in Manipur with the start of the indefinite economic blockade by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM). This is to take forward the long standing demand of the tribals for discussion on the Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021.
Thousands of commercial vehicles are stranded on mountain highways and no empty trucks have been left from Imphal to lift various items from Assam. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh says that only the Parliament has the right to act on this, not the state government. However, the students' union says that the current demand is to convene a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly to discuss the bill and send recommendations to Parliament.
The economic blockade has affected the Imphal Mao, Imphal Moreh and Imphal Jiribam highways which are the lifeline of this state with no rail lines. Members of the ATSUM and the Kuki Students' Union are enforcing blockades at many places.