ST campaign goes on

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 24 : Conve-nor of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Mani-pur (STDCM), youth wing Nameirakpam Edison has stated that the State Govern-ment's indifference to its re- newed movement to safe-guard Meetei/Meitei would only invite intensified modes of agitation.
Notably, the STDCM has been carrying out democratic protests since resu- ming its movement on August 26 last by reaching out to people of different localities.
Today, STDCM staged a sit-in protest along with Yaipha Thourang Amadi Nisha Band Nupi Lup Kwakeithel Lamdong Lei-kai, Awang Konjeng Leikai Nishaband Nupi Lup and Haorak Konthourembi Konjeng Leikai Meira Paibi Nupi Lup at Kwakeithel Konjeng Leikai and demanded enlistment of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Indian Constitution.
There, Edison said that the State Government has been making a mockery of democracy by not paying any heed to the democratic movement of STDCM.
Saying that the STDCM would launch aggressive modes of agitation from the second half of October if the Government continues to sideline its demand, he added that the movement is very important to the Meetei/Meitei as it is a matter of life and death for the ethnic group.
The Meetei/Meitei would surely disappear if some sorts of Constitutional protection is not accorded to the ethnic group, he added.
Maintaining that Kurmi community which has a population of about 2,28,00,000 is also demanding ST tag by carrying out Rail Roko protest in West Bengal, Edison continued that the population of Meetei/Meitei, however, is only  about 10 lakh.
He then urged the State Government to initiate appropriate measures to protect the Meetei/Meitei and send necessary recommendations sought by the Centre at the earliest.