Don't oppose our ST demand : Meetei students
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 19 2024:
The Meetei Students' Association, Manipur University has categorically asserted that other communities have no right to dispute the demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribes list under Article 342(1) of the Constitution.
In a press release issued by its president Nikel Haobijam, Meetei Students' Association, MU alleged that more than 8 lakh Kuki-Zos from Burma and Bangladesh who have settled in the Naga populated hill areas of the State proceeded to launch attacks on the Nagas in certain instances and are currently demanding a separate administration.
At this juncture, Meetei Students Association questioned why no objections were raised when these allegedly non-indigenous people received the ST status and the benefits that come along with it.
Stating that the demand has been raised for the survival of the Meetei community and the existence of all indigenous communities under a common banner, the Association pointed out that the demand for inclusion of Meeteis in the ST list has neither been made to any community, nor will it be granted by a handful of people from any specific community.
The existence of Meetei civilization from 33 AD does not prohibit the community from being included in the ST list, it further asserted.
In this regard, Meetei Students' Association presented the example of the Meena tribe while claiming that this tribe was a part of the vedic civilization which dates back to 1500-600 BC and has been given the status of Scheduled Tribe in 1954 .
The Association called for healthy dialogue in case of any misunderstanding in this regard and appealed against raising objections simply for the sake of argument.