Ensure rights of Meeteis : WMC to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 20 2023:
The World Meetei Council (WMC) has urged both the Central Government and the State Government to recognise the rights of the Meetei community by enlisting them in the Scheduled Tribe category under the Constitution of India at the earliest.
The Meeteis are deprived of the rights of being citizens in their own State, said a press release issued by the WMC.
The alleged discriminatory policy adopted by the Centre and the State Government towards the indigenous Meetei community has created undue opportunity for the immigrant community who takes the advantage and it looks like today the immigrant community can influence decisions of the Governments in both the State and Centre, the WMC said.
Such is the very unfortunate situation in Manipur and the main root cause of the Meetei's suffering.
The decades long ignorance of the Government in both the State and the Centre has culminated in the current crisis in Manipur and the immigrant community has threatened the National security of India.
The widespread violence which erupted on May 3 is now eight months old.
Manipur has been devastated, thousands of people have lost their homes and are living in relief camps in their own State, the WMC pointed out before asking, "Who takes the responsibility (of this devastation)? Is it the honourable Prime Minister or the honourable Chief Minister or both?" .
70,000 security forces remain mute spectators because of the Suspension of Operation (SoO), it said.
The WMC then asked, "Is SoO more important than the lives of people?" .
The Governments in both the State and the Centre must recognise the rights of the Meetei community by enlisting them in the Scheduled Tribe category under the Constitution of India at the earliest.
This is the only way forward for durable peace in Manipur, the WMC added.