MTU plans campaign for ST, expulsion of illegals
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 18 2025: Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MTU) will launch a campaign titled, "Restoration of Meetei/Meitei in Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and demand for deportation of illegal immigrants" within the current month to push for inclusion of the community in the ST List and deportation to illegal immigrants back to their countries.

In a press meet held at Thangjing Hall of Manipur Press Club on Friday, MTU secretary (administration) Mutum Churamani said that the government of India's decision to conduct the delimitation exercise from April 2026 on the basis of existing census data is not feasible for Manipur.

MTU plans campaign for ST, expulsion of illegals

He insisted that identification of illegal immigrants must first be carried out before the census.

He also reiterated the demand for including the Meetei/Meitei in the ST List as a constitutional safeguard, informing that a 42-point memorandum has been submitted to PM Narendra Modi, Union Home minister Amit Shah and Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs through Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and the chief secretary by MTU.

Stating that the indigenous Meetei/Meitei population is facing a grave situation, Churamani reiterated that the delimitation exercise cannot be carried out until foreign illegal immigrants are identified.

"In India s 75 years of independence, an indigenous community like the Meetei/ Meitei has been denied the right to be included in the ST List in favour of illegal immigrants," he contended, while urging educated youth to understand the situation at hand.

Toward this end, MTU would launch a campaign, "Restoration of Meetei/Meitei in Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and demand for deportation of illegal immigrants," he informed and appealed to the people of the state, particularly the youth to extend their support and cooperation to the campaign.

Churamani clarified that while the indigenous population has no objection to a census or delimitation, it must be based on accurate data, rejecting the flawed 2001 and 2011 census reports - which should not be mistaken by the other communities.

The central government has already been apprised that the 2001 and 2011 census reports are erroneous and cannot be used as the base.

Unfortunately, the wrong census reports have never been rectified till date.

Apart from this, although the Ministry of Home Affairs had directed on May 19 for identifying foreign illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, no action has been taken up till date, he remarked.

In 1951, after the foreigner pass was revoked and the Free Movement Regime (FMR) implemented, lakhs of people from Myanmar and Bangladesh started to pour into the state.

The Foreign Act, 1946, and the Passport & Registration Act were not implemented in Manipur.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, a huge issue broke out after illegal immigrants from Myanmar were caught with fake Aadhaar and documents.

"One needs only a moment to think and understand the situation in Manipur which is bordering Myanmar," he said.

Stating that the indigenous people of Manipur are being reduced to the status of refugees in their own land, Churamani stated that in 1991, the 2001 census found an increase of 40 per cent of the population in seven sub divisions.

Chandel district saw the highest increase of 100.16 per cent in Chakpikarong and 65.46 in Machi followed by 54.48 per cent in Tengnoupal; 60.95 per Cent in Kamjong, in the erstwhile Ukhrul district, 54.12 in Saitu-Gamphazol in erstwhile Senapati district; and 40.77 in Churachandpur.

All these areas were densely packed with illegal immigrants.

However, in the 2011 census, three sub-divisions in Senapati district reported an alarming spike in populations.

Mao-Maram recorded an increase of around 136.33 per cent; 99.15 per cent in Paomata; and 120.38 per cent in Purul.

"There is a need to investigate this abnormal spike in population and to identify where the people came from by conducting the census with 1951 as the base year," he said and urged both the central and state governments to translate this into action and ensure conduct of the delimitation exercise only after releasing the correct population data of Manipur.

Informing that detailed discussions would be held on the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list during the campaign which would be launched this month, Churamani said that the campaign aims to save the indigenous communities from the threat of foreign illegal immigrants.

He called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to identify immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, and urged all concerned to extend support and participate in the campaign.