PMRM vows support to ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 14 2016 :
The People's Movement for Resurgent Manipur (PMRM) has endorsed the demand for inclusion of Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe list of India.
PMRM in a statement issued by its publicity secretary Kha-gemba Ningthouja said it will support STDCM's mass rally scheduled to be held on May 22 .
PMRM lamented the presence of anti-ST demand groups while accusing them of misguiding and misinforming the masses about the demand for ST status.
Reacting sharply against such groups, PMRM said, "What are the special provisions that are provided by the Indian Constitution for protection of the so called 'high class' Meetei race in terms of human rights violations and discrimination by mainland India?" .
As for those communities included in the ST list, various laws have been enacted to protect and safeguard their interests.
"Why don't we Meetei demand such special protection and laws too if we think our race is an endangered one?", it asked.
With a mere population of 7.5 lakhs, Meeteis need a special provision if they want to survive among 125 crore Indian population, PMPR stated.
The JCILP's demand for Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) is also legitimate for the Manipuri population.
However, the question is why do we need ILPS and for whom? If the Meitei/Meetei community is included in the protected category of the Indian Constitution, ILPS is necessary and meaningful.
For a general category like Meetei it is unnecessary to demand ILPS, it stated.
ILPS is needed to act as a gate to preserve and conserve indigenous and protected communities like Schedule Tribes or Schedule Castes.
Therefore, for a State like Manipur, both ILPS and the status of ST are a must and people must fully support these two demands, it said.
The Meetei/Meitei race fulfils every criteria laid down by the Indian Constitution to be declared an ST.
They have primitive indigenous characters, distinctive culture, and geographical isolation in the valley only.
Out of 22,327 square kilometres, the Meetei race are geographically restricted to stay in a small area of 2000 square kilometers.
The demand for Inner Line Permit System for Manipur is a clear indication that Meetei community feel insecure to mingle with the majority communities of Indian.
"We should accept that Meetei are backward community in terms of economy.
We don't have sound economic provisions to call ourselves advanced race as compared to major communities of the Country.
How many crorepatis and businessmen are from Meetei Community? How many top officials and bureaucrats and policy makers are sitting in the Centre? What we have achieved so far is by hard work only.
We need special provisions to become a majority community in India", PMRM stated.
Politically speaking, Meetei is not an advanced race with only one member of in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha each.
When Tripuri, Ahom and Tai can bat for Schedule Tribes category, why should the Meeteis be left out?, it questioned.
Meetei is an ethnic endangered race with population less than 10 lakhs.
If the community had a demographic population of over 1 crore, the demand for ST would have been uncalled for.
If 5-10 Meetei were MPs, the people would not have required the ST status.
If Manipur was not annexed to the Indian dominions, reservations like Schedule Tribe, Schedule Tribe or Other Backward Class for the Meetei would have been baseless, it said.
Some anti ST demand groups have been spreading wrong information that only Meetei with Sanamahi as a religion can be included in the Schedule Tribe list, it said clarifying that religion is not a concern for ST status.
PMRM invites full cooperation and support from the 60 thousand Meetei Pangal (Manipuri Muslims) of the State who are now in the OBC list.
It also urged the Lois from Kakching, Sekmai, Andro, Phayeng, Thanga who are included in the Schedule Caste list to join the demand for unity and a secure future.
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