Imphal, Nov. 3: Protection and Preservation Committee Manipur (PPCM) has submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur against the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Indian Constitution of India of Thursday. The submission of the memorandum comes amidst pressure to the government from Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Meitei/Meitei.
Speaking to media persons today at the office of the PPCM, Convenor Nongthombam Bimol, said that the memorandum is submitted to the government in the backdrop of the campaign by some organization for inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei to Scheduled tribe list.
Justifying on why, the Meitei/Meetei should not be included to the List of Scheduled Tribe list, N. Bimol said that Meitei/Meetei have a history of over 2000 years according to Cheitharol Kumbaba abd even more than that if counted the unwritten history and have been living as a nation. The Meitei Meitei have its civilization which is not less than other civilizations of the world. He said we have our own language, script and own models for construction of its houses besides having our own religion.
“Before the coming of Hindu religion, we the Meitei have our own religion called Sanamahi religion”, Bimol said.
He further added that with all the fact that Meitei/Meetei have its own civilized culture and had been living as a nation so inclusion of the community to the Scheduled tribe List is not justified.
Bimol also said that there are many people who do not want the idea of converting Meitei/Meetei to Scheduled tribe list.
On the other hand the issue of ST is not supported by the SC community and if the Meitei Meetei have been converted into scheduled tribe than they stand to be as Scheduled Caste .
The convenor of the PPCM also said that already the Hill people had opposed the inclusion of Meetei / Meitei to Scheduled Tribe and acting against such opposition may result a conflict among the different communities.
