WMC backs ST status demand for Meeteis...
Reaches out to indigenous folks
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 01 2021: Pledging support to the demand of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur to include Meeteis in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution, the World Meetei Convention today asserted that Meeteis are indigenous people of Manipur as also the Nagas.

It is to protect themselves 'from the unfair competition among the 1.35 billion Indians that the demand to include the Meeteis in the ST list has been raised,' said the World Meetei Convention in a statement.

Towards this, the Centre had already asked the State Government to submit the necessary reports in 2013 but till today, nothing has been done in this regard, said WMC.

The World Meetei Convention added that the prescriptions of the Lokur Committee can be fulfilled if genuine research is conducted and added that it has however come across a communication from ATSUM to the Chief Minister urging not to send any recommendation to the Centre to include the Meeteis in the ST category.

ATSUM may have its own reason for opposing the demand that the Meeteis be included in the ST list adding that the student body has pointed out the '2000 years civilisation of the Meetei people, Golden kingdom, no more primitive culture etc', said WMC.

WMC asserted that the '2000 years' civilisation is a common heritage of the indigenous people of Manipur-Meetei and Naga and added that 'our mythology speaks of our common ancestry, except only after Meetei's conversion to Hinduism in the 18th century'.

The Meeteis may have moved with time, as ATSUM pointed out, said WMC but added that it still follows distinct traits of tribes such as praying to the ancestral God (Umang Lai) of each of the 7 Salai/clan.

This practise may look primitive, but the Meeteis are proud of their primitive cultures, said WMC and added that the Meeteis are as good as the indigenous people of the land such as the Tangkhuls, Maos, Marams, Zeliangrongs etc.

Wondering why ATSUM should behave like an adversary, WMC said that it would like to talk with the indigenous brothers, such as the Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, Zeliangrong etc and get to know if they really wish to oppose the ST cause of the Meetei.

Asserting that the campaign cannot be left unfinished for the sake of the children and the future, WMC urged the right thinking leaders of all indigenous communities to extend co-operation and assistance.

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