STDCM reminds Govt on its proposal
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 03 2024:
Maintaining that inclusion of Meitei/ Meetei in the ST list is a question of life and death of the Meetei community in addition to being a matter of a state of indigenous people, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) has urged the state government to send recommendations to the central government at the earliest.
Addressing media persons at Ima Khunthokhanbi Shanglen, DMU campus, here, on Sunday, STDCM joint secretary Laishram Brijkishore said that it has been over 10 years now that STDCM has been taking up various forms of agitation demanding the state government for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST list of the Indian Constitution.
However, the government is yet to send the recommendation to the central government, it he said and advised the state government to complete the formality at the earliest.
Stating that the decision to include Meeteis in the ST list should be taken by the parliament, he said that due to the failure of the state government to send the recommendation that ST demand for the Meeteis is facing obstruction.
He also said that STDCM submitted representations to Meetei MLAs urging them to send written letters and discuss with the chief minister to send recommendations to the centre at the earliest.
Brijkishore also maintained that inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST list is a question of life and death of the Meetei community, and stressed the need to save Manipur and Meeteis, which the state government should prioritise.
He also said that the state government should allay apprehensions and grievances of other communities which are against the inclusion of Meeteis in the ST list.