WMC backs STDCM, urges Manipur, Assam Govt
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 17 2021: While extending support to the demand of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM), Central Executive Committee of World Meetei Convention (WMC) has urged government of Manipur to send recommendation to the Government of India for inclusion of Meetei in the ST list of the Indian Constitution.

According to a statement of WMC, Meetei leaders had wrongly identified the community as a major Indian community claiming Aryan lineage at the time of merger when asked to identify whether Meetei would belong to indigenous tribal groups or hot.

This had forfeited the natural rights of the indigenous Meetei people as neither could they claim indigenous rights nor are they Aryans.

Meetei could only live in the valley which constitutes 10 percent of the total geographical area of Manipur and the remaining 90 percent is reserved for indigenous tribal groups.

The statement further said that the shifting population has caused serious demographic imbalance in Manipur and there is no constitutional protection for the Meetei people so that they can live securely among the 1.3 billion-plus Indians.

After considering the matter, WMC has decided to support the demand of STDCM and also supports the Meetei community in Assam who are demanding the same status since 2010, WMC said and urged the governments of Manipur and Assam to do justice by sending necessary recommendation to the Government of India as soon as possible.

WMC also appealed to all the leaders of political parties and community leaders in the Northeast to help and support the Meetei people in their endeavour for recognition as Scheduled Tribes as they are indigenous people like any other indigenous people of the region who are already in the ST list.

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