MP Sanajaoba pitches for ST status
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 06 2022:
Rajya Sabha MP and Manipur titular king Sanajaoba Leishemba pitched for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Indian Constitution during the ongoing session of the Rajya Sabha.
Raising the matter in the House as special mention on Tuesday, Sanajaoba said that Meetei/Meitei community has been demanding inclusion of the community in the ST list under Article 342 (1) of the Constitution of India.
Since the year 2013, different representatives of the community have submitted several memoranda to Prime Minister, home minister, tribal affairs minister and other Union leaders for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list but without any positive response or action from both the Union and state governments.
Drawing attention of the House and the Union government, Leishemba Sanajaoba said that Meitei/Meetei would become minority in their own ancestral land in near future if not given constitutional safeguard.
Meitei/Meetei community has proud written history of more than 5000 years old but there is possibility of the community reduced to the status of refugees in their own land in near future, he said and urged Union government to take up necessary action in coordination with state government at the earliest.
The matter was also raised by Leishemba Sanajaoba in the Monsoon session of Parliament in 2021 but the House could not discuss the issue as the session was shortened.
Mention may be made here that MP Sanajaoba had raised several issues relating to Manipur in the Parliament since becoming member of the Rajya Sabha with some notable issues being proposal for recognition of Manipuri (Meeteilol) as classical language, inclusion of Manipuri script (Meetei Mayek) in the currency notes and recogni tion of sacred Kangla as a World Heritage site.