Dr Ranjan calls ST demand genuine issue
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 30 2022: As part of ongoing agitation for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of Indian Constitution, volunteers of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) stormed the residence of minister Dr Sapam Ranjan and submitted a memorandum to the health minister on Sunday.

After receiving the memorandum, minister Dr Sapam Ranjan told STDCM volunteers that their movement is genuine and assured of talking about it to his cabinet colleagues, legislatures and the chief minister.

He said that the demand being made by STDCM is genuine as per Article 342 (1) of Indian Constitution.

Briefing the media after submitting the memorandum, STDCM convener Laishram Romesh advised ATSUM and PPCM, which have raised voices against inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list, to stop opposing the demand.

Condemning ATSUM's declaration to oppose STDCM's demand, Romesh said that ATSUM has been opposing inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list since 2013 .

There had been discussion to sort out differences but ATSUM is steadfastly opposing the STDCM's demand merely on the ground that Meetei/Meitei is a developed community, he said, adding that the STDCM's demand is made to the government and not to ATSUM.

He maintained that STDCM has nothing to demand from ATSUM's property and the apex tribal student body should rather help STDCM if they consider Meetei/ Meitei as their own brother.

He then appealed to ATSUM to support the movement being launched by STDCM to protect the small valley area.

According to Romesh, ATSUM has no reason to oppose the STDCM's demand, which too has to be decided by the Registrar General of India and Ministry of Tribal Affairs based on relevant documents.

The movement being launched by STDCM is being opposed by some Meetei organisations as PPCM submitted a memorandum to the chief minister in the year 2017 urging the government not to recommend the STDCM's demand, he said and appealed to PPCM to withdraw the memorandum if it was submitted due to lack of communication and misunderstanding at that time.

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