Meitei in ST list will not harm others : MTU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 21 2023: The Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union has exuded confidence that the State Government will surely send the recommendations to the Centre (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) for enlistment of Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of the Constitution within the time frame set by the High Court of Manipur.

Notably, the High Court of Manipur had on April 19 directed the State Government to send the recommendation to study the eligibility for addition of Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution.

The ruling came after hearing the petition filed by Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union over the delay in forwarding the recommendation for nearly 10 years by successive Governments in Manipur.

As per the ruling of the Court, the State is to consider the demand of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) and others who back the ST demand of Meetei/Meitei within four weeks.

Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club today, Union secretary Mutum Churamani said that the CSOs and other organisations who support the demand need to have a threadbare discussion on the matter as the High Court has directed the Manipur Government to forward the recommendations within four weeks.

Saying that the Union is always open to hold discussion on ways to forward the recommendation from the organisation who initiated the movement and those who support it, he added that the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union will endorse whatever decision is taken in the larger interest of the ethnic group.

He further said that no organisation or individual must make any statement which may misjudge the movement in TV channels or any other platforms.

Stating that addition of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list will not harm the interest of others, Churamani said that a united Manipur can only be established when there is understanding among the indigenous group in both hill and valley districts.

"The outsiders will surely overwhelm us indigenous people if there is division among us," he reasoned and appealed to all to extend support so as to make sure Meetei/Meitei get tribal status.

Meetei/Meitei are backward both politically and economically due to lack of Constitutional safeguards, he added.

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