MMTU gets ready for Nationwide ST for Meiteis campaign
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 09 2024:
The Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) is all set to take out a Nationwide campaign demanding enlistment of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of the Constitution from tomorrow (September 10) .
The Union, in a press release signed by organisation secretary Takhellambam Parijat Singh, said that the campaign which will begin in Imphal will continue for about a month.
MMTU further said that its secretary administration Mutum Churamani and joint secretary Yumnam Rajeswor will attend a 2 day meeting of the indigenous tribes which will be organised by Tribal Coordination Front at Solan in Himachal Pradesh on September 12 and 13 .
The Union maintained that they will raise the chronic issues being faced by the Meitei community and the non-inclusion of the ethnic group in the ST list despite possessing all the characteristics of a tribal group during the meeting at Solan.
Stating that they will also meet different Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, Chief Ministers, bureaucrats, social activists and religious leaders during the course of the campaign, the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union said that they have already got the appointment to meet some influential leaders.
Many Kuki-Zo people from Myanmar have wrongfully been recognised as citizens of India by enlisting them in ST and Voter lists, MMTU claimed and added that these alleged foreigners have been waging a war against the Meeteis to disintegrate Manipur and fulfil their political aspiration.
MMTU said that they will demand removal of these foreigners from ST and voter lists during their campaign.
Continuing that the fate of Meiteis is uncertain in their own land due to alleged domination of large areas of Manipur by Kuki-Zo foreigners from Myanmar, the Union reiterated that granting ST status to the Meitei is the only option available to secure the future of the ethnic group.
MMTU concluded by asserting that they will take out different forms of movement until Meiteis get the ST tag.