MMTU resumes ST campaign
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 24 2024: Raising strong opposition against the silence of the government over the ST demand for Meetei/Meitei despite repeated appeals, the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has resumed its earlier 'No ST, No Vote' campaign ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.In a statement, MMTU informed that even as aggression from Kuki militants continues occasionally against the Meetei community, illegal Kuki immigrants are closely monitoring the situation to take advantage of any loopholes to further their agenda.

With no solution in sight, there is no saying when will the conflict stop.

The crisis has displaced thousands of indigenous Meetei families in their own motherland.

With the announcement of Lok Sabha election schedule, political parties seem to have forgotten the real issues the state is facing and turning their attention towards election campaign.

Apart from the crisis, both the state and Central government have been ignoring the decades old ST demand for Meetei community on the pretext of opposition by other communities.

The government neither discusses the demand in the state assembly nor sets stage for discussing the matter with fellow indigenous communities to bring an amicable solution.

In this situation, questions are being raised over the competency of the elected public representatives, the statement said.

On the other hand, the crisis has left thousands of people without any income opportunity and it is forcing people to come out on the street selling handmade detergent powders, soaps, candles, dish wash, floor cleaners, incense sticks among others for some meagre income.

How long will the displaced families stay in the relief camps with two square meals without any foreseeable future, is the burning question among the displaced people.

Union home minister Amit Shah and union minister Kiren Rijiju as well as several politicians have termed the High Court of Manipur ruling regarding the ST demand as the root cause behind the crisis in the state.

However, people all over the world know that this is not the case.

Considering the way the Central government blame the HC ruling, it would not be wrong to say that the crisis is an outcome of a conspiracy between the Government of India with some communities to disintegrate the state.

MMTU knows that Central government can skip the recommendation of the state government if they truly wants to accord ST status to Meetei.

One can recall how Amit Shah declared the Central government's decision to recognise Pahadi community of Jammu and Kashmir as ST, during an election campaign on October 4, 2022, the union said.

The Union also decried the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the current crisis, let alone visiting the state.

Even though he has time to visit all the states of the country for the upcoming election, he could not find time to visit Manipur.

The state leaders are also keeping silence on the ST demand despite knowing the hanging fate of Meetei community.

Earlier, MMTU adopted a resolution to boycott election until recommendation for ST demand is sent to the Centre.

Keeping in view of the failure of the government in doing so and the fate of the Meetei community, the Union would be resuming the 'No ST, No Vote' campaign, the statement added.

Meanwhile, addressing a press meet at its office here on Sunday, No ST, No Vote Campaign Committee convenor Puyam Ranachandra took strong exception over the opposition against the ST demand for Meetei/Meitei from ANSAM in particular and Naga community in general.

He said that the ST demand is a constitutional right for the indigenous Meetei community and no fellow indigenous community should oppose the demand.

Nagas are indigenous communities of the state and it is unfortunate for them to oppose the ST demand from a fellow indigenes.

Opposition by illegal Kuki refugees is understandable but opposition from fellow indigenous communities is uncalled for, he said and urged ANSAM to withdraw memorandums they submitted to Governor and the Government of India.

Unless ANSAM withdraws their memorandum, the committee will launch a campaign in the valley assembly segments of Outer Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency in three districts -Thoubal, Kakching and Jiribam, who have been deprived of their right to contest the Lok Sabha election.

He called upon the 2.5 lakh voters of these assembly segments to support the committee's 'No withdrawal, No Vote' campaign and refrain from participating in any form of election activities including voting.

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