STDCM sit-ins from Feb 23 to 25
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 22 2022:
In condemnation of cancellation of permit for carrying out street corner meeting in pursuance of its demand for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe list of the India Constitution, Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) declared that it will hold sit-in demonstrations from February 23 to 25 at its office premises.
In a release STDCM general secretary K Bhogendrajit Singh informed that Imphal West DC had given the permit to carry out the peaceful meeting using public addressing system aimed at disseminating information regarding the ongoing ST demand, how it will safeguard the indigenous Meitei/Meetei community and also to assess opinions of candidates of the ensuing 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections on the issue.
While informing that the street corner meeting campaign was carried out on February 12 and 13 after permission was granted by the DC, the secretary said the permit was cancelled with effect from February 13 evening with specifying the reason thereof.
Consequently, the Committee petitioned the DC on February 16 to issue fresh permit to hold street corner but to no effect till date, it said.
STDCM also maintained that no agenda or information which can hurt the sentiment of other communities or incite communal disharmony were used during the campaign.
As such, in condemnation of the decision of the state authorities, members of STDCM will carry out sit-in demonstrations at the Committee's Jma Khunthokhanbi office premises, DMU complex from February 23 to 25, from 11:20 am to 3 pm with strict adherence to Covid-19 SOPs, it said.
The Committee also urged those supporting the demand for ST status to take part in the sit-ins.