Resolve crisis, announce ST status: MMTU to Shah
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 14 2024: Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has demanded that Union home minister Amit Shah, during his short visit to Manipur on Monday, should take measures for immediate resolution of the ongoing conflict between Meetei and Kuki communities, withdraw his earlier statement that the present crisis is due to the judgement of High Court of Manipur on inclusion of Meetei in the ST list and announce that Meetei will be included in the ST list very soon with -out waiting for state government's recommendation.

In a release, MMTU secretary Mutum Churamani recalled that Amit Shah during an election rally on October 4, 2022 at Rajouri, Jammu announced that Pahari community of Jammu & Kashmir with a population of 12 lakhs will be included in the ST list with or without recommendation of the state authority.

Though their inclusion in ST list was opposed by Gujjar and Bakkarwal communities, the central government did not pay any heed and continued the official process.

On February 6, a Bill was passed in Lok Sabha granting ST status to Pahari community along with the Paddari Tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahman.

The centre did not wait for recommendations from state authorities or delayed the matter over opposition from other communities with regard to approving their inclusion in ST list.

Similarly, Amit Shah should also declare inclusion of Meetei in ST list during his visit to state, otherwise, he will be seen as partial and narrow-minded leader, it asserted.

Mentioning that it had launched a slogan campaign 'No ST, No Vote' and had sent circular to all regional and national political parties and independent candidates for both Outer and Inner Manipur PCs asking for their stand on ST demand of Meetei community from March 29 onwards in connection to the upcoming Lok Sabha election, MMTU disclosed that till now Inner Manipur PC candidates Maheshwar Thounaojam (RPI-A), Moirangthem Totomsana Nongshaba (independent), RK Somerendro alias Kaiku (independent), retired colonel Haorungbam Sarat (independent), Outer Manipur PC candidate Dr Alyson Abonmai, Indian National Congress, All Manipur Forward Bloc, Manipur People's Party, CPI Manipur State Council, Shiv Sena Manipur Pradesh, NCP (Saratchandra Pawar), AAP Manipur Unit and JD(U) Manipur State Unit have provided consent letter supporting ST status for Meetei.

The Mass Missed Call Campaign organised by it for from November 20 to December 30, 2023 received support from 9 lakh people expressing their desire for inclusion of Meetei in ST list, which was forwarded to the state government for sending the recommendation to the centre.

Hence, both state and central governments should consider public sentiment and take their decision based on it, it emphasised.

MMTU further reiterated that considering this the Union home minister should announce inclusion of Meetei in ST list as he tours the state on Monday.

If it is not declared during his visit then it is time that every political party which does not support the demand are punished by the people, it appealed, while urging all to extend their support and unitedly work for the ST demand.

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