CBSTDCM to resume signature drive
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 08 2016:
The Coordinating Body of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (CBSTDCM) has declared that it would resume its signature campaign in pursuit of the demand for inclusion of Meitei in ST category.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, CBSTDCM convenor Mutum Churamani said that they would carry out the signature campaign at schools, colleges and market places of different districts till November 15 .
The signature campaign carried out at the gate of BT Park from October 24 to 30 was a big success, he claimed.
CBSTDCM decided to resume the same campaign after taking into account the enthusiastic response from the masses during the previous phase, Churamani said.
However, CBSTDCM's next course of action would be decided at the committee's consultative meeting scheduled on November 13.After the mass rally of September 18, the issue of bracketing Meitei community within ST category became a public issue.
Subsequently, CBSTDCM appealed to the State Government to send a comprehensive recommendation to the Central Government along with necessary documents within the month of October.
The stipulated period has lapsed and people have now started asking what CBSTDCM has been doing.
Many supporters have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions through social media.
Some even went to suggest about launching an intensive mass movement, Churamani conveyed.
CBSTDCM held a meeting with several political parties on the issue on October 4 but representatives of Congress and BJP were not present at the meeting.
This was followed by another meeting district Con- gress committees and block Congress committees on October 18, and they assured their support to the campaign for ST status.
Another meeting was also held on October 15 with legal experts so as to elicit legal and Constitutional suggestions and strengthen CBSTDCM's legal cell.
Churamani further informed that they have met most of the Cabinet Ministers and they gave assurances to support the campaign.
After a memorandum has been submitted to AICC president Sonia Gandhi, CBSTDCM has been seeking an appointment with the Governor to hand over a memorandum.
If the State Government does not deal with the issue with the degree of seriousness it deserves, the State will witness a massive, unprecedented civil movement, Churamani said.
If the Congress Government does not do what it can do before the election code of conduct comes into force, a spontaneous public uproar cannot be averted, he added.