ST demand of STDCM legitimate, says MLA Brojen
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 07 2022:
Sustaining the movement to exert pressure on the government through the elected people's representatives for recommending to the centre inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Constitution of India, Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) submitted a memorandum to Wangjing Tentha A/C MLA Paonam Brojendro at his Babupara quarters, here, on Wednesday.
Representatives of several organisations under the aegis of Coordinating Body of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee went to the MLA's quarters and handed over the memorandum.
In response, MLA Brojen pointed out that people of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram were known as scheduled tribes at the time of Manipur's merger into India, but Meeteis were clubbed under the general category later on.
The practice of celebrating Umang Lai Haraoba (festival of sylvan deities) and worshipping of Sanamahi are example of characteristics of being ST, the MLA said and opined that there will be no harm when valley people return to the ST fold.
He also reasoned that as interest of other communities wouldn't be hurt if the Meetei community is included in the ST list, the movement of STDCM is a legitimate one.