
Massive protest rally of Tribal Unions against STDCM in Manipur
Imphal: A solidarity protest rally was held in several hill districts of Manipur on Wednesday against the demand to include the Meitei/Meiteis community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.
All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) organized rally in all hill districts of Manipur under the theme – Let’s discuss together now.
The rally was held in areas where tribals mostly settled in hill districts and sub-divisional headquarters – Senapati, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel, Moreh, Tengnoupal.
Apart from ATSUM, various tribal organizations including Kuki Inpi Manipur, Sadar Hills Tribals Union on Land and Forest (SHITULF), Anal Lenruwl Tangpi/Anal Naga Students Union (ALT), and Churachandpur District Private Schools and Colleges Association (CDPSCA) and The Tribal Church Leaders Forum (TCLF), Manipur supported the rally saying that the demand for inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the ST category is a clear attempt to suppress and subjugate the tribals of Manipur.
The tribal bodies have also condemned the Manipur High Court’s recent directive to the state government to make recommendations to the central government to include the Meitei/Meetei community in the list of STs.
The KIM alleged that the High Court’s directive was insensitive to the interests of the backward and marginalized ST communities in Manipur.
The other side of the story is that the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) has urged the state government to act as per the court order and act in the interest of the people.
STDCM president Dhiraj Yumnam said the Meitei/Meetei people want ST status so that the community gets constitutional protections similar to such provisions in the hills.
He also said that the committee has suspended all protests in view of the High Court’s direction to send a recommendation to the Center for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Indian Constitution.
Meanwhile, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) has appealed to the state and central governments to appeal against the High Court’s order.
The HAC passed the resolution during its recently held meeting, in which HAC Chairman Dinganlung Gangmei issued a statement keeping in mind the sentiments and interests and rights of Scheduled Tribes of Manipur.
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