ATSUM leaders submit memorandums to Manipur mins against STDCM demand

Continuing their opposition to the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM)’s demand for inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) today submitted memorandums at the offices of Manipur Industries minister Nemcha Kipgen and Manipur Tribal Affairs minister Letpao Haokip.

In the memorandums, the ATSUM leaders urged the ministers not to support the STDCM’s demand or recommend any resolution backing the STDCM’s demand and requested them to stand for tribal integrity.

The ATSUM leadership had earlier met central leaders including Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju and Chairperson National Commission for Schedule Tribe Harsh Chouhan to apprise them of their opposition to the demand.

ATSUM is vehemently opposing STDCM’s demand of granting ST status to the Meiteis saying that the demand is illogical and illegitimate and will create further division in the society. They had also conveyed to the Central Ministers that there is a fear among the Manipuris now because of the demand.

Union Minister Munda had told the ATSUM delegation that all angles would be looked into including the constitutional aspect of the demand.

READ ALSO: ST Status to Meiteis: ATSUM Meets Union Tribal Affairs Min Against STDCM Demand