STDC may boycott political parties against their demand
Source: IT News

Imphal, March 01 2019: Schedule Tribe Demand Committee warned that the political parties who doesn't consider their demand for the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list seriously and who are against it may even be boycott.

Speaking to media persons at the office of STDC situated at Thangmeiband Khunthokhanbi Sanglen, Laishram Romesh, Convenor of Coordinating Body Schedule Tribe Demand Committee said that STDC along with the people will even campaign to not vote against such parties who are opposing and doesn't heed to their demand.

He further said that the protest for the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list has been going on since 2012 completing 6 years, but unfortunately the previous Congress led government as well as the present BJP led government doesn't even send a recommendation to the central government though both the governments agreed that their demand was an appropriate one as they were told during various meetings.

Failing to send a recommendation to the central government for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list by the state government, he added that the STDC will organise a mass rally on the 3rd of March starting from Thangmeiband Thau Ground around 10 am and finish the rally at Hapta Kangjeibung.

He further warned that various intensive agitations and protest will be done if the government fails to send recommendation before the Code of Conduct for the upcoming Lok Sabha Election.

Romesh also said that the inclusion of the Meetei in ST is the basic right for the Meetei and to save both the land and the people constitutional safeguard is the need of the hour.

He also added that Meetei is the only indigenous community who isn't on the category of ST list in the entire North East.

He recalled that 6 communities of Assam who were previously OBC were recommended to change into ST during the Lok Sabha session.

Neglecting the serious issue by the state government to include in the ST list is violating the basic rights of the Meeteis, he added.

Romesh finally appealed to all the people to participate in the rally and to save the land as the only way to save the Meetei is through the inclusion in the ST list which will eventually get a constitutional safeguard against various forces.

He also appealed to cease work during the rally hours and participate in the rally making it a successful one.

Earlier today a bike rally of about 40 bikers was also organised starting from Thangmeiband and covering both Imphal East and Imphal West to give awareness about the demand for the inclusion of Meetei/ Meitei in the ST list and also about the rally to be organised on the 3rd of March.

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