ST demand protest continues
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 09 2022:
Continuing to exert pressure on the government for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list, Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) along with Youth Social Club cum Information Centre and Lang-dai Meira Paibi Nupi Lup staged a sit-in at the Porompat office premises of the Information Centre on Sunday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, STDCM youth co-convenor Chingsubam Manglemtom Meetei pointed out that there is no other way for protecting Meetei community other than inclusion in the ST list of the Constitution of India.
If people of the community fail to understand the situation when the outsiders have started buying land and even contesting assembly elections in valley area, then the community will become extinct in the near future, he cautioned.
While highlighting that similar movements for inclusion of their respective communities in the ST list are also being carried in other states, Manglemtom referred to the recent letter sent by Odhisa CM letter to the centre urging for inclusion of 160 communities in the ST list.
As such the government of Manipur should initiate relevant process rather than ignoring sentiment and plight of the Meetei community, he demanded.
Pointing out that most of the communities in North East are included in the ST list and Meetei community is the only one left out; Manglemton appealed to clubs, meira paibi, student organisations and civil society organisations to support the ST demand and also attend public convention to be held on October 13 .
Meanwhile, Yoibu Yoihen Tanba Ngakshel Apunba Lup, Nambol and Nambol Apunba Nupi Lup also staged sit-in protest demanding inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list at Nambol Tribal market shed.