Tribal quota will remain untouched: KKLM to ATSUM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 02 2019:
Reacting to the vehement opposition raised by ATSUM against STDCM's demand for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST list, the Kangleipak Kanba Lup Manipur (KKLM) has categorically stated that the present quota for reservation of jobs for the tribal community in Manipur will remain untouched and unchanged even if Meitei/Meetei is granted ST status.
A statement issued by KKLM maintained that if the Meitei community gets reservation on account of becoming a Scheduled Tribe, it would be from the all India quota which the tribals of Manipur cannot claim to be their sole preserve.
Taking strong exception to the threats issued by ATSUM to all tribal political leaders of grave consequences should they take part in any deliberation paving way for the demands of STDCM to be considered by the Government of India which is the ultimate authority in this regard, KKLM wondered as to why ATSUM has not been issuing any threat to the Government of India till date.
It also categorically stated that the demand of the STDCM is not about hankering after the job quotas which the tribal brethrens in Manipur have been enjoying.
It is true that the suzerainty of the erstwhile kings of Manipur or Kangleipak had extended up to Chindwin River banks in Myanmar and Surma River in Bangladesh, however after the merger of Manipur into the Union of India, the space occupied by the Meiteis has been reduced to the five districts of Manipur comprising less than 10 per cent of the total geographical area of Manipur.
The STDCM raised the demand for inclusion of Meitei in the ST list of the country after minutely considering the imminent threat to the very existence of the Meitei community as a race in its own land.
Saying that there is a strong possibility of the Government of India not giving assent to the People's Protection Bill passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly fearing repercussion in other States like Maharastra etc, KKLM opined that the Supreme Court would not approve the Bill even if it is given assent by the President of India as it violates fundamental right of citizens to settle in any part of the country.
"Thus, left with no option, the Meiteis have been seeking protection under Article 5 of the Constitution of India in the form of classification as a Scheduled Tribe so that at least our lands will be protected like that of yours in the hill areas", it asserted.
"Isn't it true that no Meitei can purchase land in the hill areas whereas the reverse is not true, and Meiteis have never objected to the setting up of tribal colonies in the valley area viz; Nagaram, Paite Veng, Poumai Colony, Tangkhul Avenue, Haokip Veng etc", it continued.
The KKLM then asked the ATSUM to withdraw its confrontationist stance with the Meiteis and study deeper the raison de'tre behind the STDCM's demand.
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