Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 14:
Expressing awe at the State Government clustering Chairen villagers in the Scheduled Caste club, Andro Assembly constituency MLA S Chandra said such categorization is akin to constricting facilities to the genuine SC class.
Referring to constitutional classification of caste the MLA said only original inhabitants of Sekmai, Khurkhul, Phayeng, leimaram, Leimaram Khunou, Koutruk, Andro and Kwakta were conferred SC status under Article 341 of the Indian Constitution with the assent of the president in 1956.While the past Government granting SC status to Kakching had created controversy inclusion of Chairen in the SC club by the present Govt has no relevance to the Constitutional guideline, contended S Chandra.
He further castigated Ministers and ruling party MLAs for distributing Scheduled Caste certificates to Chairen villagers terming such conduct as an attempt to only gain political mileage and not in consideration for welfare of the people.
Not only has the Ministers/MLAs' conduct reflected SPF Government�s pitiable level of political game but has also created cause of concern of whether the ruling party legislators would over-step certain parameters and begin to exercise unconstitutional power, he said.
Charging the State Government of violating Supreme Court ruling to cease award of SC certificate to Kakching residents, he alleged SPF Govt of distributing more than 5000 such certificates even after the apex court decree.
Demanding withdrawal of the Govt conferring SC status to Chairen villagers within Sugnu AC, Chandra asserted that approval of either the State Assembly or placing the matter at the floor of the Parliament would have been more appropriate rather than politicise such an important issue.