He further said that both the previous governments as well as the present government agreed with the idea that the Meetei/ Meitei community should be included in the Scheduled Tribe list but none of them have even sent the recommendation to the central government. He further said that if there isn’t any constitutional safeguard for the Meetei/Meitei than the fate of Jiribam will take place similarly in Imphal and other valley areas too where a non-indigenous contest in the election and even get elected.
He also said that Meetei is the only indigenous tribe in the entire North East who isn’t included in the ST list. If the Meetei was included in the ST list than the land and both its culture and language can get protected, he added. He further warned that if the recommendation is not sent before the code of conduct of the upcoming election than a series of intense agitation will be organised along with the people.
During the public meeting, Manipur’s Titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba said that the Meeteis/Meitieis have been struggling for their survival. And the easiest way to survive for the time being is through the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe list as the central government has already given its signal for the Meetei/ Meitei to be included in the Scheduled Tribe list.
He added that all the other movements like Manipur Peoples Bill, Inner Line Permit and protection against CAB needs an assent or request from the government but the ST demand movement which the central government had already signaled for inclusion.
He appealed the state government to send the recommendation to the central government and also requested other communities who hindered their demand as it is their only way to get constitutional safeguard which will help in the survival of the immerging Meeteis.
Yambem Laba, senior journalist of The Statesman, who was also a former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission also spoke on the meeting stating that if the entreaty to send approval does not bother the government than they will seize it from their hands.
Labe added that as a matter of fact if the government doesn’t send approvals to include Meetei/ Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe list before the code of conduct of the upcoming Lok Sabha election than they will boycott the political parties who are against their demand. He also cautioned that the movement is one which can haul up the government.
He further questioned the previous Congress-led government for not considering the approval and that they need to answer and face the consequences. He said that if the present government thinks for the future of the people that they should call an emergency cabinet meeting and let the Meetei/Meitei be included in the scheduled tribe.
Photos - By Brown Nongmaithem
Yambem Laba, Advisor of the STDCM addressing the Public And the others mass protest rally in Imphal