WMC for constitutional rejig tor peace in state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 09 2023:
The World Meetei Council (WMC) in a crucial meeting held in Guwahati on Friday shed lights on the root causes of the turmoil in Manipur, emphasising that root cause of the problem lies in the deeply unequal constitutional treatment that the Meetei community has endured while urging for constitutional amendment to bring lasting peace in the state.
WMC, in its statement, asserted that the Meetei people have, over time, been subtly relegated to the status of strangers or second-class citizens within their own state.
Regrettably, this state of affairs has transpired with the awareness of Meetei leaders, who, as the statement suggests, have been lacking in governance foresight.
The violence gripping Manipur, according to WMC, could have been averted had the Meetei community been granted the rights and privileges they deserve as rightful citizens of the state.
The statement further highlights the disheartening fact that individuals from Myanmar's Chin-Kuki community can arrive in Manipur and attain full citizenship status almost immediately due to their designation as Scheduled Tribes (ST).
At present, Nagas and immigrant Chin-Kukis are regarded as the sole rightful citizens of Manipur, a circumstance attributable to the constitutional dispositions set forth by the governments of India and Manipur.
Astonishingly, this systemic injustice towards the Meetei community has gone unnoticed or unaddressed by both state and central governments, the WMC said.
It also expressed serious concern over violence perpetrated by immigrant Chin-Kukis, who, driven by their demands, have been encroaching upon the rights and resources of the indigenous population.
This situation, as stated in the release, is unacceptable, and it is the indigenous Meetei who find themselves the primary victims of this crisis, especially as Nagas have seemingly sided with the immigrants for their immediate convenience.
WMC expressed hope that Nagas will reconsider their stance in the larger interest of the state's peace and stability.
The current volatile situation in Manipur, often referred to as the "Gateway to Southeast Asia", is a cause for concern, and WMC believes that the Central government must address the root cause of this alarming trend.
WMC contended that durable peace can only be achieved if justice is served to the Meetei community.
The statement acknowledged that certain CSOs have presented demands to the Government of India as a way forward for Manipur.
In the interest of both the nation and the state, WMC urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rectify the constitutional imbalance that lies at the core of the crisis.
This rectification can be achieved by promptly including the Meetei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes, the statement added.