Manipur Meitei row: ATSUM seeks Hill Areas Committee intervention

The ATSUM said that the tribal community of Manipur will never accept the demand of the STDCM for ST status for Meteis.

STDCM President Laishram Lokendra | Northeast Live

The row over the ST status demand for Meiteis is getting bigger with the All Tribal Students Union Manipur or the ATSUM opposing the move now.

In a memorandum submitted to Chairman of Hill Areas Committee D Gangmei, the ATSUM expressed concern over the support by MLAs from the valley to the ST status demand for Meiteis by the STDCM.

The ATSUM also countered the alleged STDCM stand that Meities fulfilled the criteria to become ST on the basis of Mongoloid race and the prevalence of distinctive religion and culture terming it as irrational.

The ATSUM further added that the tribal community of Manipur will never accept the demand of the STDCM for ST status for Meteis.

Reacting to the ATSUM memorandum, the working president of STDCM Laishram Lokendra said the demand for ST status for Meiteis should not be linked with privileges and quotas for jobs. Even in Assam, there are 2 different tribes, the hill tribes, and the plain tribes. Lokendra added that the STDCM’s demand is constitutional and seeks to protect indigenous Meiteis.

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