Honour demand or face intense agitation: STDCM to Covt
Those stymieing movement for inclusion in ST list are against the community: Y Dhiraj
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 26 2022:
Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) resumed its protest movement in pursuance of the demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Constitution by staging sit-in protest at Yumjao Lairembi community hall, Keishampat Junction here on Friday.
Speaking on the side-line of the protest, STDCM president Yumnam Dhiraj denounced the government fornot fulfilling the decades-old demand.
The most important issue of Meetei/Meitei is the inclusion in the ST list under Indian constitution, he asserted while contending that those trying to deflect the movement for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list are against the community.
While cautioning that future of the community is unpredictable if Meetei/Meitei is not included in the ST list even after the arrival of train, he urged the government to take up necessary measures at the earliest.
STDCM is well prepared to launch several protests by joining hands with people if the government turns a deaf ear to the long overdue demand, he cautioned.
STDCM general secretary K Bhogendro urged the government not to put down the demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list and further exhorted to take up necessary initiatives by considering the sentiments of the people.
While cautioning of unwanted incidents if the government continues to remain blind on the issue, he appealed to the government to consider the democratic protest seriously.
Government should send the required recommendation to the centre at the earliest for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list, he added.
The sit-in protest was attended by leaders of CSOs, student and women's organisations among others.