WMC gives more teeth to ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2021: The World Meetei Convention (WMC) and Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) have urged members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly to discuss the Scheduled Tribe status of Meetei/Meitei in the ongoing session of the House.

The WMC and STDCM also urged the State Government to send a recommendation for granting ST status to Meetei/Meitei to the Centre.

Addressing the media at Singjamei Chirom Leikai, chairman of WMC Heigrujam Nabashyam lauded the STDCM for giving a voice to the demand for ST status to Meetei/Meitei since 2012-2013.Recalling that every minority in the country were given the opportunity to identify themselves as a general or ST as per Government policy in 1950-51, he maintained that the leaders of the time, unfortunately, identified the Meetei/Meitei as a part of Aryan society of India and not as indigenous people.

As a result of this, the Meetei/Meitei has been restricted to settle in the valley of Manipur only, Nabashyam added.

Saying that every indigenous people have the right to settle in the hill districts of Manipur as per "our Constitution,' the WMC chairman rued that the Meetei/Meitei has been deprived of the rights of the indigenous people due to mistakes of the past.

He also said that the valley covers only 10 percent of the total land area of Manipur.

Continuing that the population density in the valley area is increasing each passing day, he said that the Meetei/Meitei occupies only 6.5 percent of the State geographical area.

Nabashyam further claimed that the Meetei/Meitei has become one of smallest ethnic groups in North East India with a meagre population of only about 18 lakhs.

Asserting that the historical blunder of 'our ancestors has caused us dearly,' he urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to correct the misrepresentation of Meetei/Meitei so that the ethnic group can enjoy its inalienable rights.

Vice president of STDCM VP Laitonjam Borajao Meetei, on the other hand, said that many demonstrations have been staged demanding ST status for Meitei/Meetei.

Cautioning that the State Government not sending the recommendation has the potential to disintegrate Manipur, he urged the Chief Minister to do the needful at the earliest.

He also said that treating the indigenous people of Manipur differently as per certain laws of the land is never right.

It is disappointing that none of the MLAs tabled the issue for discussion on the floor of the House, Borajao maintained and urged both the members of the ruling and the Opposition to discuss the matter during the Assembly session.

The press briefing was also attended by WMC advisor Potshangbam Sonamani and other leaders of STDCM.

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