MMTU gears up for 'No ST, No Vote' campaign
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 4 : The Meetei (or Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has announ-ced that it will launch a "No ST, No Vote" campaign, protesting the alleged inac-tion of political parties and politicians to add Meeteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of the Constitution.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club, MMTU secretary organisation Takhellambam Parijat accused political parties and politicians of exploiting the demand for granting ST status to Meeteis and addre- ssing the issue of illegal immigration for vote bank politics.
He claimed that several illegal immigrants have been included in the ST and voter lists, despite the Supreme Court's ruling that illegal immigrants do not have any Constitutional rights.
He also warned that the Meetei society could vanish if the ethnic community is not granted ST status soon, citing the severe impact of illegal immigration.
Moreover, the valley districts of Manipur, where the Meetei people reside, are not recognized as Scheduled areas, making the situation even more alarming, Parijat said.
He also said that the entire Meitei community would suffer greatly if ST status is not granted to them before the Census exercise and the subsequent delimitation.
Saying that the Government of India has been taking strong action against illegal immigration in other parts of the country following the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year, he claimed that similar urgency and measures, however, are lacking in Manipur, despite the establishment of several new villages in Manipur by Kuki-Zo people from Myanmar.
According to government records, 1,556 new villages have emerged in the hill districts of Manipur over the last 50 years, with 560 of them in Churachandpur alone, he said.
Parijat also stated that the large-scale influx of illegal immigrants in Manipur not only dilutes the State’s culture but also undermines the political, socio-economic rights, and land of the indigenous communities.
He said that inclusion in the ST list is a legitimate right of the Meeteis, and such an enlistment would not mean a downgrade for the community.
There is no point in arguing against the Meeteis' demand for inclusion in the ST list, he said.
He explained that the Meetei community was recognized as a tribe in the General Census of India reports (1891 to 1931), but were excluded from the tribal list in 1951 after India gained independence.
It is primarily the Meetei youth and students who are most affected by the non-inclusion of the ethnic community in the ST list, he said, adding that Manipur is one of the States where corruption and unemployment are at their peak.
He also said that students don't get adequate financial assistance in Manipur.
Meitei youth have to compete with the vast population of India when applying for Central Government jobs, as they are not entitled to the 5 per cent reservation for ST candidates, he said.
In the recent SSC exam, Meitei candidates who scored between 70-80 per cent were not selected, while ST candidates with scores as low as 35-40 per cent were chosen, he said and added that those who assume granting ST status to the Meeteis would lower their status have no concern for the future of the younger generation of Meeteis.
IMPHAL, Jan 4 : The Meetei (or Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has announ-ced that it will launch a "No ST, No Vote" campaign, protesting the alleged inac-tion of political parties and politicians to add Meeteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of the Constitution.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club, MMTU secretary organisation Takhellambam Parijat accused political parties and politicians of exploiting the demand for granting ST status to Meeteis and addre- ssing the issue of illegal immigration for vote bank politics.
He claimed that several illegal immigrants have been included in the ST and voter lists, despite the Supreme Court's ruling that illegal immigrants do not have any Constitutional rights.
He also warned that the Meetei society could vanish if the ethnic community is not granted ST status soon, citing the severe impact of illegal immigration.
Moreover, the valley districts of Manipur, where the Meetei people reside, are not recognized as Scheduled areas, making the situation even more alarming, Parijat said.
He also said that the entire Meitei community would suffer greatly if ST status is not granted to them before the Census exercise and the subsequent delimitation.
Saying that the Government of India has been taking strong action against illegal immigration in other parts of the country following the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year, he claimed that similar urgency and measures, however, are lacking in Manipur, despite the establishment of several new villages in Manipur by Kuki-Zo people from Myanmar.
According to government records, 1,556 new villages have emerged in the hill districts of Manipur over the last 50 years, with 560 of them in Churachandpur alone, he said.
Parijat also stated that the large-scale influx of illegal immigrants in Manipur not only dilutes the State’s culture but also undermines the political, socio-economic rights, and land of the indigenous communities.
He said that inclusion in the ST list is a legitimate right of the Meeteis, and such an enlistment would not mean a downgrade for the community.
There is no point in arguing against the Meeteis' demand for inclusion in the ST list, he said.
He explained that the Meetei community was recognized as a tribe in the General Census of India reports (1891 to 1931), but were excluded from the tribal list in 1951 after India gained independence.
It is primarily the Meetei youth and students who are most affected by the non-inclusion of the ethnic community in the ST list, he said, adding that Manipur is one of the States where corruption and unemployment are at their peak.
He also said that students don't get adequate financial assistance in Manipur.
Meitei youth have to compete with the vast population of India when applying for Central Government jobs, as they are not entitled to the 5 per cent reservation for ST candidates, he said.
In the recent SSC exam, Meitei candidates who scored between 70-80 per cent were not selected, while ST candidates with scores as low as 35-40 per cent were chosen, he said and added that those who assume granting ST status to the Meeteis would lower their status have no concern for the future of the younger generation of Meeteis.