More debate ST status for Meeteis Meet rejects ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13 2016 : A public meeting held today at Wabagai Lamkhai, Thoubal district on the topic "ST status in Manipur" under the aegis of the Protection and Preservation Committee Manipur (PPCM) resolved that the demand for enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in ST list is a wrong step which would mislead the history of Manipur.

The meeting further resolved to persuade all concerned and stem the same campaign.

PPCM convenor Dr Y Mani Khuman, senior citizen Moirangthem Sajou and CARD president Mayengbam Bhumeshore attended the meeting as presidium members.

Speaking at the meeting, PPCM member Sanajaoba Nongthomba said that some students and organisations have joined the campaign for ST status which is being spearheaded by the STDCM .

Though the proponents of ST status have been maintaining that ST status for Meiteis would bridge the gap between hill people and plain people apart from addressing the miseries of Meiteis to a considerable extent, PPCM finds the whole argument misplaced.

Meiteis have already crossed the ambit of ST category and they have been struggling to build a Manipuri Nation by way of unifying all the hill people and plain people, Sanajaoba said.

He said that the meeting was organised to study the merits and demerits of the campaign rather than plunging into the campaign just because the British colonial rulers termed Meiteis as a tribe and the Government of India would be agreeable to the same demand.

Manipur never figured when the Constitution of India was drafted.

Although Manipur was under British occupation, it was never a part of India till 1949 .

On the other hand, Article 3 of the Indian Constitution has been continuously challenging the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Just because Tai-Ahoms of Assam who were the bedrock of the Ahom civilization have chosen the wrong path, Meiteis need not follow suit, Sanajaoba said.

Human Rights Alert executive director Babloo Loitongbam remarked that the campaign for ST status launched in the midst of the popular movement for enactment of ILPS or a similar mechanism is quite akin to the Manipuri proverb heiranglingei da yurangba.

Noting that the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31 last year are being opposed by many hill people, Babloo cautioned that campaigning for ST status at such juncture may further strain the hill-valley relationship.

He then appealed to all the proponents of the ST status to rethink the issue.

Pettigrew College Librarian Dr Arambam Birjit, MB College Associate Professor Dr Homen Thangjam and retired Project Director of IFAD North Eastern Region Laishram Saratchandra too spoke at the meeting.

Comment