UNC opposes inclusion of Meitei in ST list; condemns court order

The United Naga Council which is the apex Naga civil body had strongly condemned the Manipur High Court order directing the state government to recommend inclusion of Meitei/Meetei community in ST category.

In a statement, the United Naga Council, stated that the Meitei community of Manipur is an advanced community of India with their Manipuri language (Meiteilon) listed in the Eight Schedule to the Constitution of India.

According to the UNC it is irrational that the High Court of Manipur directed the government of Manipur to recommend for inclusion of Meitei/ Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of India, negating the sole objective of scheduling group of people for protective discrimination as Scheduled Tribe in the Constitution of India.
According to the UNC, the Meiteis are already protected under the Constitution of India and categorized as General, Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Scheduled Caste (SC) within the existing Meitei/Meetei community itself.
Earlier on April 21, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) had urged the government of Manipur to desist from sending recommendation to the centre for inclusion of Meitei community in Scheduled Tribes list.
The appeal came barely two days after the High Court of Manipur directed the state government to send recommendation to include Meitei community in ST list, expeditiously and preferably within 4 weeks.