Will boycott polls till ST proposed to centre: MMTU
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 12 2024: Meetei/Meitei Tribe Union (MMTU) has declared that it would not take part in any elections till the state government sends recommendation to the union government for inclusion of Meitei/Meeteis in the ST list of the Indian Constitution.

Addressing media persons at its Wangkhei Khunou office, here, on Tuesday, MMTU convenor Haobijam Surjit said that the decision not to take part in elections has been taken after serious deliberation among members of MMTU, Meetei Students' Association MU and other likeminded associations considering the future of Meeteis.

He also appealed to the government and public not to misconstrue the decision.

Stating that MMTU neither has the right to boycott elections nor launch campaign against voting rights of the public, Surjit opined that there is no point in electing our representatives and sending them to a place where rights of citizens are undermined.

Regardless of movements carried out demanding the state government to send the requisite recommendation for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe list under Article 342 (1) of the Indian Constitution for the last 12 years, there has been no positive response till date even though the central government had intimated to the state government on the same.

Surjit further informed that in connection with the demand, MMTU filed a writ petition in the Manipur High Court in March last year to which the state government sought a year's time to reply.

The High Court then instructed the state government to send recommendation on whether Meitei/Meetei can be included in the ST list or not.

The matter had even reached the Supreme Court following interference from some communities.

However, the state government has remained silent over the matter till this day and held the Court order accountable for the May 3 incident.

Pointing out that inclusion of Meeteis in the ST list is not in the hands of the court, Surjit said that citizens of Manipur should not forget that judiciary is one of the pillars of democracy.

MMTU had submitted all related documents to the state government according to wish of the people.

The only document missing is the socio- economy and ethnography report which is mandatory for inclusion of Meitei/ Meetei in the ST list, and the recommendation to the centre.

He also said that the though the matter was brought up on the floor of the State assembly during the recent session, neither leader of the House or any other ministers responded positively.

No other community has the right to interfere demand for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST list and this has been the mutual understanding with all other communities, he said.

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