ST tag is our birthright : WMC

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 12 : The World Meetei Council (WMC) has asked whether Meetei/Meitei needs permission from others in seeking Constitutional safeguard for them.
The WMC, in a statement, said that former Chief Minister O Ibobi and the incumbent N Biren Singh didn't pay any attention to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status demand by Meetei/Meitei only to not hurt their political interest.
The leaders of Manipur have been advocating that Meetei/Meitei should play the bigger role in keeping the State intact, the WMC said and  added that the fate of Meetei/Meitei however will become uncertain after the delimitation exercise of 2026 if appropriate measures are not taken to secure the future of the ethnic group.
Why is the Chief Minister hellbent on not sending the recommendation required to enlist Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Constitution all these years simply because some groups are against granting ST status to Meetei/Meitei, WMC asked. It also asked whether the Chief Minister takes his seat of power to be more important than the future of Meetei/Meitei.
The Council accused the Chief Minister of blackmailing the people of Manipur by negatively portraying the ST status demand by Meetei/Meitei.
Meanwhile, the WMC held a demonstration at Terakhong-shangbi, Moirang and Wangjing Khunou today with a demand to add Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Constitution.
At Terakhongsangbi, the protesters demanded that the State Government must send the recommendation before the commencement of the Lok Sabha election.
The demonstration was jointly organised by WMC, Salai Kanba Lup Terakhongsangbi Unit, Indigenous Development Mission Moirang, Kege Moirang Kanba Apunba Lup, Kege Moirang Kangleirol Kanba Lup and womenfolk of Terakhongsangbi and Khudekpi.
Speaking to the media, chairman of Salai Kanba Lup L Gopal assured that inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list won't hurt the  rights and privileges of other communities.
Meetei/Meitei seeks the ST status only to protect themselves from all the issues which threaten the survival of the ethnic group, he added.
It will be wrong to assume that Meetei/Meitei people are after the rights and privileges being enjoyed ST communities, Gopal added.
Saying that Meetei/Meitei must be given the ST status as soon as possible, he urged the State Government to send the recommendation before the Lok Sabha election begins on April 19.
The Meetei/Meitei people are only demanding their birthright, he said and added that the ethnic group must be given the ST status.
A similar demonstration was also held at Singjamei Keithel yesterday.