Meet resolves to storm residences of legislators
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 13 2022: Schedule Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) on Thursday convened a decision-making meeting for Meetei/Meitei with regard to the demand for inclusion of the community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list as constitutional safeguard, at Ima Khunthokhanbi Shanglen in Thangmeiband.

During the meeting, a resolution was adopted to storm the residences of MLAs, ministers and MPs, and submit memorandums on the issue.

In all, representatives of 30 different organisations attended the meeting along with that of local clubs, Meira Paibi, women organisations and student bodies, wherein the presidium members shared their opinions and various resolutions adopted.

The resolutions included continuation of the ongoing protests and launch awareness protests; taking out torch rallies; staging of general strikes and mass rallies; joint support to all future protests of STDCM, and for STDCM to take over the task of fulfilling the aforementioned resolutions.

The meeting was attended by retired IAS officer RK Nimai; STDCM working president retired Lt Col Lokendro, chief patron M Nongdalenkhomba, advisor Prof H Jayantakumar; political analyst L Saratchandra; MHRC ex-chairman Khaidem Mani; and IRCS Manipur Chapter chairman Y Mohen as presidium members among others.

Delivering the keynote address, STDCM general secretary K Bhogendrajit Said that the demand for including Meetei/Meitei in the ST list was made to the central and state governments since the end of 2012.In response to the memorandum submitted by the Committee, the Union government instructed the state government on May, 2019, 2013 to submit the necessary documents.

STDCM has been urging the state government to forward the recommendations albeit the raging Covid-19 pandemic and other issues.

In continuation of the protests, Sit-ins have been staged by local clubs, Meira Paibi groups and other bodies at various locations since August 26 this year.

So far, 40 sit-ins have been staged in different places, he conveyed.

Mentioning the CM's statements to the media that the state cabinet is discussing the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list along with the positive actions which could be taken up; the general secretary appreciated the statements but urged for the matter of inclusion to be put into action at the earliest.

However, as the government seems to be dragging its feet in the matter, the decision making meeting was convened on Thursday to discuss the movement's further course of action, he stated.

Recounting the convention held on December 16 last, Bhogendrajit said that a representation of the resolutions adopted during the convention was submitted to the CM the next day, cautioning him to take a positive action on the matter by December 27 or an 18-hour general strike would be imposed.

As the government failed to give any assurances, an 18-hour general strike was imposed from midnight of December 27 .

On December 30, over 50 volunteers of STDCM stormed the CM's office but failed to meet the CM.

Nonetheless, they submitted another representation.

From December 31, 2021 till January 9 this year, slogan protests were carried out at Khwairamband Keithel and other important markets.

With the expiration of the term of Manipur Legislative Assembly and the looming elections, the Code of Conduct was put in place.

Later, street corner meetings were held from February 12-13 and calls made to the CM and other MLAs after the Assembly, which were followed by the protests since August 26, he further recalled.

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