Why rally tinged with violence only at CCpur poser raised
STDCM sets right false narrative
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 03 2023: The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) is all set to launch a mass movement until Meetei/Meitei gets a Scheduled Tribe (ST) status as per the provision of the Constitution once the law and order situation in Manipur improves.

In a statement signed by its publicity secretary N Debeshwor, STDCM reiterated that granting ST tag to Meetei/Meitei is indispensable for the survival of the ethnic group and it doesn't pose threat to any community.

Saying that they have discussed about the crisis in Manipur and the ST demand of Meetei/Meitei with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and BJP National spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra on May 25 at the Chief Minister's Secretariat, the STDCM said that another meeting was convened with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 30 at the same venue and on the same topic.

After the meeting, the STDCM submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister which briefly highlighted the factors which sparked off the ethnic conflict and the reasons why Meetei/Meitei needs ST status, it added.

One of the key points which was mentioned in the memorandum states that the Manipur High Court's ruling regarding the Meetei/Meitei's demand for ST status is not central to the aggression of Kuki militant groups.

As per STDCM, the aggression of Kuki militant groups was triggered by their pent-up frustration against the eviction drives, War on Drugs campaign etc of the Government.

The Kuki militant groups need to be controlled first for peace to be restored in Manipur, STDCM added.

Saying that the Union Home Minister portraying the particular ruling of the High Court as the cause of the violence in Manipur is regrettable, STDCM reasoned that the Tribal Solidarity March of ATSUM taken out on May 3 ended peacefully in non-Kuki areas.

"If we go further back than one can easily conclude that the ST demand by Meetei/Meitei has nothing to do with the ethnic conflict as tension was already high in Churachandpur before May 3", STDCM said and reminded the incident of April 27 where a mob vandalised an open gym in Churachandpur which was to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

STDCM went on to claim that there indications of some section of people opposing the eviction drives at reserved and protected forest areas, destruction of poppy plantations and identification of illegal immigrants among others.

The violence was pre-planned by people with vested interest to achieve their goal, STDCM claimed and asked whether the officials of the Centre and the State Government didn't submit the true report of the violence to the Union Home Minister.

The Committee, nonetheless, lauded Amit Shah for coming to Manipur and announcing a series of peacekeeping initiatives to restore normalcy.

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