Tamenglong, April 05 2010: Representatives of Naga social organizations and a political party burnt a copy of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 and its amendment of 2008 today in the middle of Main Street, an act of denouncing the Act.

The Act, said Gaidon Kahmei, General Secretary of People's Democratic Alliance, the spokesman of the team demanding amendment of the Act, is a toothless Act giving no autonomy to the Autonomous District Council.

The burning of the copy of the Act was carried out jointly by representatives from United Naga Council (UNC), Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM) and the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA).

The spokesman further said that the Act did not give financial, judiciary and legislative power to the District Council and hence the Act is a farce.

A democratic country is governed by Acts and Rules and what is a democracy if Acts, Rules and Laws are against the will of the people, asked the spokesman.

Recounting their activities on demands for amendment of the ADC Act, Gaidon also said that they have submitted memoranda to the Prime Minister, AICC Chief, State Governor and Chief Minister but the Act is still incomplete.

He showed a letter written on 7 April 2003 by the then Deputy Prime Minister LK.

Advani to the State CM Ibobi Singh, asking Ibobi to submit the details of the local adjustments and amendments to be made in the Act to the MHA without further delay.

The letter further said that the Councils do not enjoy any legislative or judicial powers and that the councils are not able to exercise the executive and administrative powers vested in them because of many controls.

"We demand amendment of the Act and early holding of the ADC election and we do not ask for not holding the election as some are wrongly translating our demands", he added.

The agitators further said that the 12 hour chaka bandh called by the UNC and other Naga frontal organizations will go ahead.

Meanwhile, Hoineilung Kahmei Chairman Nungba Citizen's Council will support the 12hour bandh called for 6 April by the UNC.