WMC urges Govt to back ST demand
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 17 2021: World Meetei Council (WMC) has appealed to the government of Manipur to send necessary recommendation to the Centre for inclusion of indigenous Meetei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes of the Indian Constitution so as to save the vulnerable community from decimation at the earliest.

In a statement issued on Sunday, WMC said that it is fully aware of the predicament of the government of Manipur on the matter and is keenly observing the developments.

In the next few weeks, WMC would make effort for all concerned to take a vow that Meetei people are indigene whose ethnography would qualify the necessary criteria laid down by Lokur Committee.

WMC can also say with full conviction that neither the government of Manipur nor any entity can do injustice against the Meetei people by denying or opposing their rights to be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes which could protect the Meetei community from decimation.

WMC also cautioned those who are trying to misrepresent the Meetei as an advanced, competent and competitive people who do not need constitutional protection in the vast sea of 1.3 billion strong Indian population.

The fact of the matter is that Meetei people hying in some 1500 sq km of the liveable area of the valley of Manipur along with all other communities are not even rightful citizens in their own state of Manipur though the chief minister happens to be a Meetei who cannot approve even a recommendation letter.

This is the reality.

This is something WMC cannot accept in any manner and the council is ready to take on anything for the sake of future children, the statement added.

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