Supports ST status demand: Maheshwar
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 10 2024:
Continuing its 'meet the candidates' campaign to get views of candidates on ST status demand of the Meetei/Meitei, representatives of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STD-CM) met Maheshwar Thounaojam, RPI (Athawale) candidate for Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency for the 18th Lok Sabha election.
During the meeting with STDCM representatives at his residence on Wednesday, Maheshwar said he fully supports ST status demand of the Meetei/Meitei and it is constitutional rights of the community to raise such demands.
Maheshwar also informed the STDCM representatives that the demand is genuine and he had met Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda regarding the demand in the past.
According to Maheshwar, STDCM had long been raising the demand and many organisations are shouldering responsibility to get Meetei/ Meitei community constitutional safeguard.
However, the demand remains ignored till date much due to intentional neglect by leaders, he said and strongly viewed that politicians of the state are still reluctant to mount pressure to the right system.
He further informed the STDCM representatives that inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in ST list of Indian Constitution is among the seven promises he made to the people as a candidate and simply submitting memorandum would not get the demand.
He also promised to approach relevant officials by getting into the system to get the demand.