Meitei Leepun isn't an organisation, but a movement, says chief
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 07 2024: Manipur exists because of Meitei and Manipur will become powerful only when Meiteis become more robust, said chief of Meitei Leepun Mayengbam Pramotchand.

Pramotchand made the remark during a meeting held at UFLC ground at Lamboikhongnangkhong under the theme "Immediate exclusion of illegal immigrant Kukis from the ST list" .

The meeting began by lighting candles in honour of the people who died while taking part in the movement to keep the State's integrity intact.

At the meeting, Pramotchand continued that all the communities residing in Manipur might already have been converted into Kuki by now if Kuki is the dominant community in the State.

He said that Meitei Leepun was formed to secure the future of Meitei people and it respects the Constitution of India.

Saying that Meitei Leepun is not a registered body and also not an organisation but a movement, Pramotchand maintained that Meitei Leepun was formed in 2015 at Sana Konung.

Maintaining that it is the Meitei people which have been fighting uncompromisingly to safeguard the integrity of Manipur , Pramotchand continued that Manipur exists as a State of social heterogeneity because Meitei people believe in peaceful coexistence.

Pramotchand further stated that the concept of Manipur was fostered by the Meiteis.

It would be wrong to see Meiteis as the proverbial "fish in a pot," the Meitei Leepun chief said and added that the erstwhile kingdom of Kangleipak was much larger than the contemporary Manipur.

He said that the goal of Meitei Leepun is only to build a sense of unity among the Meiteis living in different places.

Saying that Kukis are not the indigenous people of Manipur, Pramotchand asked how ST status was given to the Kuki people in the first place.

Only Meiteis and Nagas have the Constitutional right to demand enlistment in the ST status in the context of Manipur but not the Kukis, he claimed and alleged that more than 14000 new Kuki villages were set up in the last 15 years.

Meitei Leepun leader Nameirakpam Premjit, Uripok Apunba Lup president Soram Tikendrajit Singh, Uripok Nupi Apunba Lup president Potshangbam Joyshree and advisor to Lamboikhongnangkhong Apunba Meira Paibi Lup Phurailatpam Radharani also attended the programme among others.

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