ST demand legitimate, says MLA Keba
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 04 2022:
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur's (STDCM) demand and movement to secure Constitutional safeguard for Meitei/Meetei by enlisting the community in ST category is quite legitimate, asserted Patsoi AC MLA Sapam Kunjakeswor (Keba) .
Talking with a team of STDCM who came to his Tera Sapam Leirak residence today, the MLA said that he supports the demand as well as the movement.
As done with other legislators, the STDCM team submitted a memorandum to Kunjakeswor.
Maintaining that the demand is quite legitimate, the MLA assured physical as well as moral support.
He said that he would also extend financial assistance, if necessary.
However it is essential to bring an understanding with all stakeholders.
All those groups who are opposed to the demand should be taken into confidence, the MLA said.
|
As the demand is legitimate, the State Cabinet even adopted a resolution on the matter in 1981, Kunjakeswor said.
The STDCM team went to Sagolband at MLA RK Imo's residence too but they could not meet the MLA as he was away.
STDCM Youth Wing convenor Nameirakpam Edison said that they have met six Ministers so far.
"If the Ministers' responses are any indication, we are confident that our movement would be fruitful", Edison said.
He said that they would carry on different forms of agitation including rallies and protest demonstrations apart from meeting Ministers and MLAs one after another.
He said that the STDCM is peeved by the objection raised by some communities against the Meitei's demand for ST status.
Of the total geographical area of Manipur, the valley constitutes only 10 per cent while the remaining 90 per cent hill areas enjoy Constitutional safeguard in the form of Scheduled Areas, Nameirakpam Edison said.
Among the communities settled together in Manipur, Meiteis are comparatively a little larger in terms of population.
Although the Meiteis have a bigger population, they cannot afford any complacency because there is a strong possibility of non-local people completely overwhelming them in near future in the absence of any Constitutional safeguard, the Youth Wing convenor said.
The demand for ST status is not in the interest of Meiteis alone.
Rather it is in the interest of all indigenous communities.
Neither Meiteis nor the ST communities would be able to protect Manipur when there is any massive, continuous influx of non-local people, he said.
He then appealed to all not to give any negative comment on the STDCM's demand and movement.