STDCM sit-in protests ban on street corner meeting
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 24 2022:
Denouncing the state government's decision of restricting conduct of street corner meetings associated with the ongoing demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list; Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) on Thursday staged a sit-in protest at Panthoibi Shanglen, Thangmeiband Maisnam Leikai.
Speaking on the sidelines, STDCM general secretary K Bhogendrajit informed that in pursuance of the demand to include Meetei/Meitei community in the ST list, the Committee launched street corner meetings from February 12 onwards.
The DCs concerned gave their approval, provided the meetings are held in strict adherence to Covid-19 SOP, no disturbance is caused to the public, no hate speech is made and reduce volume of loudspeakers.
However, on February 13 at around 8 pm, the state government issued an order, restricting the conduct of all street meetings.
"The government claims it restricted the meeting because they violated the rules laid down by the DCs concerned, but failed to provide any evidence supporting the claims.
The state government is basically violating the Freedom of Expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
However, the hypocrisy on the matter is that the government allowed large gathering of people to welcome PM Modi and other union ministers coming to campaign in the state and violating other rules mentioned above, while restricting STDCM from doing the same", he remarked.