Stop communalizing ST demand: ATSUM
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, January 31 2023: Reiterating its opposition to the demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has asked the proponent of the demand to stop communalizing the issue.

The student body stated that it is unfortunate that of late there has been a surge in an unceasing attempt by proponents of the demand to communalize the issue by attempting to drive a wedge between the tribal communities that too under the very nose of the Government 'driven by sheer desperation or with the eye to be on the media limelight' .

"Such puerile attempts will not succeed," it said.

It continued that ATSUM fails to understand why the Government of Manipur is silent when so much communal overtones are overtly coming out daily from the proponents of the ST demand while adding that instead of trying to rein them in, it seems the Government is encouraging them by letting them loose.

"For months we have been silently watching all these histrionics with the hope that sanity will prevail.

But it seems our silence was construed as timidity.

Now our patience is reaching the end of its tether and our composure vexed," it stated.

The State Government should maintain the status quo on the matter and side with none.

But the open support expressed by the Meitei Ministers and MLAs is a clear testimony that this Government is not neutral, ATSUM claimed.

Saying that their opposition to this 'illogical demand' is unwavering and will be opposed with more vigour and tenacity, ATSUM continued that they will go the extra mile to defeat the cause.

The student body continued that they have given their reasons for opposing the demand on numerous occasions 'as it is going to impact the tribal communities of Manipur adversely' .

The deafening silence of the twenty tribal MLAs on the matter for months when their Meitei counterparts have openly support it raises many questions, ATSUM asserted and maintained that they (tribal MLAs) too must break their silence or would be construed as supporting the demand of Meetei/Meitei.

ATSUM then appealed to all the tribal communities of Manipur to stand united on the issue.

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