MMTU to approach SC over ST status to Kuki-Zo
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 05 2024:
Asserting that the community had illegally immigrated to India, Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has announced plans to approach the Supreme Court of India if the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status granted to Kuki-Zo people is not withdrawn.
In a release, MMTU organisation secretary Takhellambam Parijat Singh said that the inclusion of these immigrants from Myanmar in both the Indian voters' list and the ST list is unconstitutional and violates the Foreigners' Act, 1946.Expressing concern over what it termed 'unchecked illegal immigration', it accused authorities of allowing these immigrants to enrol as voters and obtain ST status.
The Union described the situation as both an overt and covert agenda aimed at undermining the existence of indigenous communities in Manipur.
The organisation is now considering legal action in view of the threat posed to demographic balance and cultural identity of the indigenes, it reiterated.
Alleging that Kuki-Zo people who have settled in Manipur are not indigenous to the region, MMTU claimed that there were no Kuki-Zo villages identified in Manipur until 1834 and they entered the state either as refugees or illegal immigrants.
Before 1941, to recognise a village consisting of 29 Kuki households as a Kuki village, annual tax of Rs 3 was paid to nearest Naga village chief.
In 1941, the Manipur State Darbar raised this tax to Rs 6 per annum, it mentioned.
The release further said that till 1973, Kuki refugees had written several times seeking relief and rehabilitation from both the central and state governments, with old documents still present now that prove this fact.
It also highlighted that inclusion of the Kuki-Zo people in the ST list in 1950 led to complications, especially when the term 'any Kuki-Zo tribe' was introduced in 1956, allowing more immigrants from Myanmar to settle in Manipur.
Pointing out that the Constitution of India has strict criteria for inclusion in the ST list, MMTU stated that only communities that have resided in a region for an extended period can qualify for this status and no foreign nationals and refugees can be included in the list.
Citing legal precedents, it referenced a 2011 ruling by the Supreme Court of India and a 2023 ruling by the Delhi High Court, which reaffirmed that individuals who are not indigenous cannot be included in the ST list.
Several Indian states have removed groups from the ST list that do not meet the qualifications.
However, in Manipur, the issue remains unresolved, causing significant concern among the Meitei community, the Union decried.
MMTU warned that the Meitei people's existence is under threat as the influx of non-indigenous communities seeking ST status continues.
Following the merger of Manipur into India in 1949, the state's political, economic, social, cultural, and identity landscape has faced considerable challenges, exacerbated by the migration of foreigners, particularly from Myanmar.
Meetei community fears that without ST status, they will lose control over their land, political influence, and cultural identity, it asserted.
MMTU maintained that only 700 square miles remain for Meitei settlements and political shifts, including delimitation, could further marginalise the community.
It also expressed concerns over the exploitation of their ancestral lands and national resources by outside forces, warning of permanent displacement if the issue is not addressed.
MMTU urged the indigenous communities, citizens, and politicians to unite in support of the Meetei people's demand for inclusion in the ST list, calling it a critical measure to protect their future.
It warned that if this demand is not met, tensions may escalate, and the community may be forced to take a stand to safeguard their cultural, political, and economic rights.