Sit-in protests ST seat reservation
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 13 2022:
Under the aegis of Public Action Committee (PAC), locals of IMC Ward No 5 organised a sit-in protest at Uripok Bachaspati Leikai UCAL ground) against the ST reservation in IMC Ward No 5 "based on false census" .
Interacting with the media at the protest site, PAC chairman Ratan Luwang said that there is no permanent ST settlement in IMC Ward No 5 which covers all the way from Uripok Sinam Leikai to Langol.
Upon enquiry about the reason behind the reservation, PAC came across census report of 2011, which stated that there are 10,268 ST population in the area, which is rather surprising, he said while terming it as an incorrect census prepared on the table based on ghost electors.
The protest cum public meeting was organised to point out the incorrect census data, which was possibly prepared by some officials with vested interest, and to create awareness of the same among the public.
He demanded the government to look into the matter and rectify the mistakes at the earliest, failing which they are all set to launch different forms of agitation.
Stating that Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, the largest colony in Ward No 5 has a population of only about 4000 people, he maintained that adding 10,000 ST voters is definitely bogus and demanded the government to bring out the actual voters.
He also said that they cannot accept the attempt to snatch opportunities from the local people by counting double voters and families of government employees living in government quarters.