Call given to cease work, delete Kukis from ST list
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 30 2024: Appealing to the people to cease work and stage sit-in protest on Saturday, Meitei Leima has stated that government institutions, educational institutes and markets should halt operation for the day in support of the demand for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meetei/Meitei and deletion of illegal Kukis from the same.

Addressing the media at Khwairamband Keithel Temporary Market here on Friday, Meitei Leima vice president Longjam Premila Leima urged the people of Manipur to collectively oppose the proposed protest rally by Kukis on Saturday aimed at denigrating the Meetei/Meitei community.

She contended that the Kukis are trying to feast on an unverified audio recording in pursuance of their continuous campaign to fuel false narratives about the Meetei community and balkanise Manipur.

Premila recounted that on May 3 last year, Kukis used the umbrella term, "tribals" to incite the violence in Kuki-dominant areas with manipulative tactic eventually exposed as could be comprehended from all other tribal communities opting not to align with the Kukis.

Although the Kukis have been acting hypocritically, the Meeteis are steadfast for the truth and will continue to do so no matter how many attempts are made to defame us.

In addition to using the umbrella term of "tribals", the Kukis have been donning the mask of being a minority community in front of the whole world.

However, the Meeteis have never wronged anyone and been passive till date.

Thus, if the Kukis take one step to disintegrate Manipur, we, as the Meeteis, should take ten steps to protect the unity and integrity of the land at all cost, said the vice president.

Stressing the need to show united strength of the people on Saturday, she appealed to all to cease work for the day and stage sit-in protests lend support to the cause for preserving the territorial integrity of the state and demanding withdrawal of SoO with illegal Kuki terrorists, granting ST status to the Meetei/Meitei and deletion of ST tag from illegal Kukis.

She then urged against organising any activity other than essential, emergency and religious events, while further requesting for closure of all government institutions/offices, educational institutes and markets.

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