No end to debate over demand for ST tag Public meet against ST status demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 19 2016 : Protection and Preservation Committee, Manipur (PPMCM) and United Clubs Organisation of Bishnupur (UCOBID) jointly organised a public meeting on Scheduled Tribe status in Manipur at Ningthoukhong bazar community hall today.

PPCM convenor Dr Y Mani Khuman, UCOBID president L Ranjit and Ningthoukhong Municipal Council Chairperson K Mani attended the meeting as presidium members.

Linguist Dr Th Chandramani, CPA Director RK Bobichand, Ng College Assistant Professor M Mangoljao and Modern College Associate Professor Haobam Indrakumar spoke at the meeting as resource persons.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Y Mani Khuman said that Manipuri society is now in a complete mess.

In fact, it seems that Meetei/Meitei people are nearing extinction, he said.

Mani Khuman said that there is need for a serious discourse as integrity and unity of the State may be jeopardised if necessary measures are not taken immediately.

He said that every man wishes to live with dignity and there is no community in this world which do not want dignity.

Stating that Manipuri people are known to the world for their high esteem, Mani Khuman said that as such it is illogical to demand ST status.

He opined that it would be better for the Meitei/Meetei community to generate innovative ideas and assert their civilization.

Meitei/Meetei people must give up the habit of depending on others for their livelihood and development, he said and added that this would ultimately lead to an inferiority complex.

Saying that it is dangerous to blindly follow others, Mani Khuman said that Meiteis/Meeteis need to equip themselves to compete with the world.

In her keynote address, PPCM convenor (finance) Y Kunjarani said that Meitei/Meetei people need to look for other alternatives to gain advancement rather than descending to the ST status.

India never mentioned about Manipur when it drafted its Constitution, she said and added that after the Phillipines adopted its famous democratic Constitution in 1946, Manipur also drafted its democratic Constitution in 1947.Even as the Manipuris were trying to build up a united Manipur nation after British left the kingdom, India forcefully annexed Manipur to the Indian union, she said.

After Manipur merged with India, the newly formed country never put in any effort to uplift Manipur and protect its people, she alleged.

Y Kunjarani further said that Meitei/Meetei people must deliberate and understand the hidden agenda and the internal idea which goes with the demand for ST status.

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