ST status antagonists suffer from LLTT: DESAM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 20 2016 : The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has categorically stated that those people who have been opposing the ongoing demand for inclusion of Meetei in ST category are suffering from Looking London, Talking Tokyo (LLTT) syndrome.

The demand for inclusion of Meetei in ST list is basically in the interest of Meetei community but this does not mean Meeteis do not share any concern for other communities of the State, DESAM asserted in a statement.

All other communities living together with Meetei in Manipur have been already listed in ST category.

As such, these communities cannot be incorporated within the ongoing campaign.

The antagonists of ST status have been claiming themselves as highly civilized people of 21st century living in post-modern society but all the rhetoric, arguments and jargons used by them do not reflect any sign of civility.

Rather than respecting democratic values and debating the issue logically under democratic principles, they approach the issue with a haughty and arrogant attitude.

While labelling the proponents of ST status as traitors, reactionaries and agents of India, the antagonists have been arguing that inclusion of Meetei in ST category is regressive.

At the same time, they have been asserting that hill people and valley people share a fraternal bond.

If the Tripuris who have been reduced to the status of a minority in their own land had not been given Constitutional safeguard, they would have been wiped out completely from the surface of the earth.

ILPS does not cover Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland.

One group called Survival Nagaland recently demanded extension of ILPS into Manipur on the ground that Dimapur has been serving as entry for outsiders to settle in different parts of Nagaland.

As such, the argument that ST status cannot check influx lacks rationale, DESAM asserted.

There is no hidden agenda behind the campaign to enlist Meetei in ST category and bring uniform status among all the communities of Manipur but the antagonists have been trying to project the same campaign as an attempt to ignite communal conflagrations on the assumption that ST status for Meetei would widen the chasm between Meetei and other communities.

But this assumption is totally baseless, DESAM contended.

Then DESAM asserted that ST status for Meetei would not affect the rights and opportunities being enjoyed by other ST communities of the State.

Except for some pockets covered by the MLR Act 1960, all the lands in hill areas are owned by respective village authorities.

As such, there is no question of Meetei ever owning a piece of land in hill areas regardless of whether they (Meitei) are enlisted in ST category or not.

In view of the ever widening trust deficits among different communities, there is little cordiality among communities settled in hill areas leaving aside the question of Meeteis settling in hill areas.

As for the State quota, the existing system can be maintained or a better system can be enacted.

As done in Nagaland and Assam, ST communities can be divided into advanced tribe and backward tribe or plain tribe and hill tribe.

According to the Census report of 2011, tribal people constituted just 0.86 per cent of the total population of India.

Meanwhile, around 100 different communities including Tai Ahoms of Assam are expected to be included in ST category shortly.

Even if these communities are assumed to be included in ST category, the total ST population would rise by around just 12 lakhs.

When Meeteis are listed in ST category and subsequently entitled to all the quotas and benefits given by the Constitution of India, quotas and benefits being enjoyed by different communities already categorised as ST would not be affected.

It is not only the Meeteis but many other communities would also be added to the ST population.

The Constitution guarantees every community which fulfils all the criteria of being an ST to be included in the ST category in order to protect their land, culture and identity.

Hence ST communities of Manipur ought not raise any objection against the campaign for inclusion of Meetei in ST category from the perspective of quotas and other benefits given by the Government of India.

The argument that Meeteis have a recorded history spanning over 2000 years, Manipur was a Nation State and Meeteis had attained high level of civilization cannot guarantee survival of Meetei community.

In the meantime, if the five communities of Assam including Tai Ahoms are included in ST category, only Meeteis whose population is just around 12 lakhs would be left in the general category in the entire North East region.

Such a scenario would run against the regional political dynamics.

This would ultimately pave the way for segregation of Meetei from the people of the region politically, economically and socially and it would be pose serious challenges to the survival of Meetei community.

DESAM then appealed to all the people to support the campaign for ST status and join the public meeting scheduled on May 22 at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen.

It further appealed to all organisations/groups not to pose any disturbance to the scheduled public meeting.

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