WMC invite ATSUM to a dialogue on ST Demand
Imphal, 24th October, 2022 *
WMC have come across a report on ATSUM - an assortment of tribal intellectuals, as they claim - that they oppose the Meetei people's "devious demand" to include themselves in the list of Scheduled Tribes of the Indian Constitution. This is not a new thing and the points of arguments ATSUM raised are the updated version of their earlier ones.
However it may be pointed out that a series of debates on the same matter took place between ATSUM and Mr. Heikrujam Nabashyam, Chairman of WMC way back in October - November, 2017, in his personal capacity. The debates was carried by "The Sangai Express" and also by news portals including E-pao.net, etc. One can check out the debates by typing/googling "Know the Meetei", "The threat to Balkanize Manipur" etc along with "Heikrujam Nabashyam".
WMC sincerely believe that any sensible person would understand what was all that the ATSUM was talking about. WMC also feel that the ATSUM was emboldened by a few Meetei intellectuals/leaders who, to protect their own world vision spoke against Meetei ST demand.
The fact of the matter is that after Manipur became a part of India, Meetei cannot be rightful citizens in Manipur.
Would any sensible person accept the fact that 91% of your own state of Manipur is being kept away from the native Meetei people by the law of the land, and whereas people who came from Myanmar illegally few years back would become rightful citizens.
Another point that one may easily understand including ATSUM is that more than 90% of economy in the Imphal Bazar area - both movable and immovable assets belong to business communities. If the Meetei people are truly advanced as ATSUM repeatedly praise the Meetei, the place that the business community occupy today should belong to the Advanced Meetei people.
Another point is when people have not much choice they work hard to secure their life, Meetei has not much choice - no resources of land etc except the 45 odd square kilometres of the valley area, which is home for everyone .
So quite a few Meetei students work hard and become good doctors who served the people when they are sick without the distinction of tribes or religions etc. Why should it be an issue of ATSUM. Kukis occupy around 80% of the top bureaucracy of Manipur and top brass of Manipur police should it not be an issue for the ATSUM !
One last point Meetei according to our mythology are "Salai Taret", seven clan or seven big families born by a single Godhead Ebudhou Pakhangba though they are cut into two pieces by the Indian Constitution into Meetei general and Meetei Scheduled Caste. This is a great injustice done to the Meetei. If we are advanced people we would have opposed it. Now it should be corrected.
All Meetei should be one - no OBC, no SC only Scheduled Tribe. No question about it.
Finally therefore to make everything clear WMC invite ATSUM to a dialogue to find a logical conclusion to the issues they have raised.
WMC is ready to sit across the table at the venue and time of the choice of ATSUM.
Yambem Arun Meetei
Secretary General
CEC - World Meetei Council
* World Meetei Council sent this info to e-pao.net
The sender can be contacted at worldmeeteicouncil(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This article was posted on October 25, 2022 .
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.