No time to delay, send recommendation: STDCM to Govt
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 06 2022:
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) has demanded the government to waste no more time over discussing the ST demand for Meetei-Meitei but to send the relevant recommendation to the Centre at the earliest.
The protest in pursuance of demand for granting ST status to Meetei-Meitei community spearheaded by STDCM has been continuing in different parts of the state since August 26 .
On Thursday, Young Voluntary Organisation Wangkhei, Yaipha Lamjing Kanglup, and Chingarel Tejpur Nupi Lup under the aegis of STDCM organised sit-in protests at Wangkhei Puja Lampak and Chingarel Tejpur.
Speaking at the protest, STDCM general secretary K Bhogendrajit pointed out that it has been over a decade since the demand for ST status came up.
Several mass rallies, protests, panel discussions and public meetings have been organised to create awareness on the matter.
However, the government has been ignoring the demand on the pretext of discussing the matter, which is rather unfortunate, he said.
Chief Minister N Biren himself told the media that the demand is being discussed by the state cabinet.
Though it is good to know that the government is discussing the matter, they should not waste more time in discussion but should send the relevant recommendation to the Centre, he demanded.
YVO Wangkhei president Lourembam Binanta said that the ST demand is a legitimate demand for Meetei-Meitei community as it is a question of survival.
Everybody knows how non-locals are slowly taking control in the state, and initiatives like Act East Policy, Trans Asian Highway and Trans Asian Railway will only make it worse.
The community will go extinct in a few years if the situation is left unchecked and no constitutional safeguard is provided to the community, he said, while demanding early decision from the government.
He also assured of full support to STDCM in its future steps towards achieving the goal.