Careful while commenting against Meitei ST demand to avoid communal tension: STDCM

By Donald Sairem

The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) has advised tribal bodies to be very careful in making comments against the ST demand by Meiteis as it will unnecessarily create conflict between different communities living together in Manipur.

Speaking to media today at the Manipur Press Club, STDCM President Dhiraj Yumnam accused tribal CSOs and bodies of making unnecessary and ill-advised comments against the demand, more so in the wake of the High Court of Manipur directing the state government to send a requisite recommendation for inclusion of Meitei community in ST list.

He said that it is not right to openly condemn the High Court of Manipur for its directive and in a way, they are punishable.

Pointing out that the Hill Areas Committee is not a normal organisation but a statutory body, he said that the HAC should be careful in commenting against the Court’s order.

“HAC or for that matter the tribal bodies such as ATSUM, United Naga Council, and Kuki Inpi Manipur are not the authority to decide whether Meiteis are eligible to be included in the ST list or not,” he said adding that such bodies obstructing the demand by Meiteis is unbecoming on their part and also show an “unbrotherly” attitude.

Further saying that the Meiteis have been sacrificing to a large extent, Dhiraj said that STDCM expects the tribal bodies to reciprocate.

Unlike the claims of the tribal bodies that Manipur’s emotional integrity will be affected if Meiteis get ST status, he maintained that there will be more emotional integrity when Meiteis are identified as ST as there will be homogeneity and all will be at the same footing.

Taking part in the press meet, Chief Patron of STDCM, Moirangthem Naodalenkhomba rubbished the idea of studying the standards of the Meitei community compared with other communities living in Manipur only.

He said that compared to mainland Indians, the standards of Meiteis are far below.

He also advised the HAC and other tribal bodies to study political science and Indian Constitution for an informed judgment of the affairs.

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