No movement till May 20: STDCM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 27 2023: Acknowledging and appreciating the High Court of Manipur's verdict that the State Government should send necessary recommendation to the Centre for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST list, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) has stated that it would not undertake any movement or agitation till May 20 .

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, STDCM president Dhiraj Yumnam said that the STDCM has taken serious note of the reactions made by some hill-based organisations to the High Court of Manipur's verdict which directed the State Government to send necessary recommendation for enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category.

No movement till May 20: STDCM

It is rather unfortunate that the ATSUM, the UNC, the Kuki Inpi Manipur and the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) which represents the hill people who have been already included in the ST list have expressed strong disapproval against the High Court verdict.

These organisations are now engaged in intensive propaganda to project the Meitei community in the wrong light to the hill people.

They have been projecting the Meitei community as envious people who are pursuing unrealistic goals, Dhiraj said.

Saying that the majority of the Meitei/Meetei have joined the chorus for enlisting the community in the ST category, the STDCM president asserted that there is a growing need for proper communication between the plain people and hill organisations before any untoward incident breaks out.

He remarked that the Meetei Tribe Union's decision to go to Court was quite appropriate.

Led by the STDCM, the Meiteis/Meeteis who are one of the indigenous communities of Manipur have been demanding constitutional safeguards to protect their identity by way of enlisting them in the ST category under Article 342(2) of the Indian Constitution, he said.

In response to a representation submitted by the STDCM on May 3, 2013, the Government of India asked the State Government on May 29, 2013 to send the community's ethnography report and the latest socio-economic survey report for consideration of the proposal of enlisting the community in ST category.

Since then, the STDCM supported by many organisations, local clubs, voluntary organisations and Meira Paibis have been urging the State Government to send the necessary recommendation but to no avail, Dhiraj said.

The STDCM has decided to serve a fresh ultimatum on the State Government and launch a strong movement if the State Government fails to send the necessary documents even after the ultimatum, he said.

Acting on a writ petition filed by the Meetei Tribe Union, the High Court of Manipur passed a verdict on April 19 which directed the State Government to send necessary recommendation to the Centre within four weeks and the STDCM respects the High Court verdict.

Moreover, the High Court's verdict has given a fillip to the people's clamour and movement for ST status, Dhiraj said.

He also thanked the Meetei Tribe Union.

The STDCM exuded confidence that the State Government would comply with the High Court's order and send the necessary recommendation to the Centre by May 20 .

He said that strong agitation would be launched if the State Government fails to send necessary recommendation to the Centre by May 20 .

He then appealed to all the communities of Manipur who have been already listed in the ST category not to raise unbrotherly objections against the Meitei's demand for same status.

"We were, are and will be living together.

Just as the hill people enjoy constitutional safeguards, ensuring similar safeguards for the plain people is in the interest of all indigenous people", he said.

If the Meiteis disappear from the valley and the valley is overwhelmed by non-local people, it would have disastrous impacts on the hill too, he continued.

The STDCM president clarified that they have no intention of forfeiting/encroaching upon the rights and opportunities of other communities .

"If there is any reservation or apprehension, we may talk with the Government and each other, and bring an amicable solution", Dhiraj said.

Indigenous communities who have been already enlisted in the ST category should not raise objections rather they should support the Meitei's demand for ST status, he said.

"Let us all live together in Manipur", he added.

The argument of some organisations that the Meiteis have been already enjoying Constitutional safeguards in the forms of SC, OBC and General sounds illogical.

The Meitei's demand for ST status is driven by the growing need to protect small valley area, he said.

Meanwhile, the Meetei Students' Association (MSA) has urged all Meetei MLAs/Ministers to take a collective decision and send it to the Centre in favour of enlisting Meitei/Meetei in the ST category.

Speaking to media persons at Majorkhul today, MSA finance secretary Karam Bhupendra said that all the Meetei MLAs/Ministers should work collectively after setting aside all their differences when it comes to issues which pertain to the whole community.

The Meitei community's demand for ST status does not mean grabbing the rights and opportunities of hill people, he said.

Bhupendra pointed out that there are many communities whose languages have been included in the 8th Schedule despite being Scheduled Tribes.

He also appealed to all the people not to sell lands to non-local people.

Bhupendra further appealed to all concerned not to create communal tension based on judgements passed by Courts and questioned whether those organisations which have openly condemned the High Court's verdict are above the High Court.

The movement to stop Meitei/Meetei from being enlisted in the ST category is a highly communal step which challenges the whole Meitei community, he said.

Reacting to the argument that the Meiteis have been already granted Constitutional safeguards for they have been classified as General, OBC and SC, the MSA president asked whether the ST communities would agree to give up their ST status and embrace SC, OBC or General status.

Enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category would not reverse or change the status of ST communities, rather it would bring all the communities closer, he added.